Author's Note: So here's the next installment. I know you guys are probably tired of me saying this but THANK YOU so much for those you reviewed and for the readers! I just hope this pathetic writer can live up to it.
Ichigo: Che yeah right.
Rukia(punches his gut): Must you be a jerk right now.
Me: Well it's nice to see who wears the pants in the relationship.
Rukia(smiling): Thank you! (turning to Ichigo) What does that mean?
Ichigo: Idiot! Why did you say thank you if you didn't know? And you stop saying we are in a relationship!
Me(smugly): I don't know why you're getting so defensive all I said was relationship I never once said it was THAT kind of relationship. What's going through that head of yours to be thinking that?
Ichigo(blushing): Shut up and just write will you.
Me: And the score is: FANS: 100 and ICHIGO: 0 ZIP, NADA, NONE FOR YOU SUSAN
Ichigo(face palm): This NUT does not own Bleach or anything associated with Bleach. So I'm guessing your machine didn't work.
Me(hits with mallet): No it did but the government took it away from me before I could do anything! Anyways let us commence the story telling!
Chapter 8
"Stop calling me that you jerk!"
Ichigo ignored her and walked towards his unconscious father. He picked him up and left the room. Rukia continued to talk as he returned but Ichigo ignored her.
"You know you didn't have to hit him so hard. What kind of son are you?" Rukia said annoyed that he's ignoring her. Rukia grabbed a nearby object and was poised to throw it at his head.
"What's your phone number?" He suddenly asked as he turned around to look at her. She was sitting up on the medical bed with her arm raised as her hand clenched the object she was about to throw. Ichigo had to stifle his laughter at how ridiculous she looked and the expression on her face didn't help either.
"Wha…?" Rukia was in a state of confusion and immediately forgot what she was about to do. She brought her hand down slowly and contemplated what just happened.
'First he insults me then he ignores me and now he's asking for my number! No wonder he doesn't have a girlfriend. I mean with his looks it shouldn't be… wait what am I saying? Focus Rukia focus!'
Ichigo was getting very impatient as he waited for her response. He saw the dazed look on her face and knew that she was no longer paying attention. He sighed in exasperation and walked towards her.
"Hello. Anybody in there or is there just hot air in that big head of yours?" He waved his hand in front of her face. She quickly grabbed it and gave him a dirty look.
"Why do you want my number all of a sudden?" She glared at him as if by doing this would make him burst into flames and therefore be gone from her life.
He yanked his hand away from her grip roughly and walked across the room towards the phone as he begins to explain.
"Well seeing that you hit your head pretty hard my dad wants to make sure that you won't get a concussion and slip into a coma," he rolls his eyes at his dad's ability to over dramatize matters, "So you are going to have to stay here for the night so he can monitor you. I need your phone number so that I can tell your umm guardians about the situation and that they shouldn't worry." He gives her a serious look as he finishes.
"I understand." She returns the look but it fades as she smiles smugly at him, "Now was that so hard. If you really wanted my number you should have told me that beforehand."
This irritated him, "Will you just shut up and just give me your number already!"
Her smile grew wider, "Oh that must work wonders with the ladies."
He responds by giving her the death glare until Rukia finally relents and gives him her number. A second later realization of what she just did hits her.
"Wait hold on!" she yells as she sees him about to dial the number.
"What?" he exclaims the anger evident on his face.
She slightly flinch, "I don't think that's a good idea. I mean your dad told me that all I have is a slight bump. Me staying here would be too much to ask after all you have done for me. I feel fine." She threw her legs to the side of the bed and proceeded to get up to prove her point.
Unfortunately she got up to quickly and her knees buckled in protest. Ichigo was quickly by her side and caught her before she could hit the ground. Rukia was not at all comfortable with how close he was. Her breath was caught in her throat. It took most of her will power to not push him away and scream in terror.
"Yeah like I'm falling for that terrible act of yours," he said as he picked her up bridal style and placed her back on the bed, "Besides its already dark out. I hate this as much as you do so just deal with it."
"But…"
Ichigo gave her a dark look. "You're staying here got that!" he hissed in a low threatening tone.
He walked towards the phone and dialed the number she gave him. As he waited for someone to pick up he took a quick look at Rukia. She seemed to be very nervous.
'What's her problem?' He pondered about his question for a bit before mentally slapping himself. 'Oh crap that's a stupid question knowing what just happened to her.'
He took one last look at her. Her eyes darted back and forth around the room and she had her fists clenched as if that would stop her body from shaking. She looked so small and fragile to him. He was filled with rage as he first took notice of the bruise on the right side of her face.
"Kuchiki residence," said a woman on the other line interrupting Ichigo of his thoughts.
It was obviously a servant. Ichigo had almost forgotten that she belonged to a noble family. He hesitated before answering.
"Ah yes. May I speak to Byakuya Kuchiki?" he said. He could faintly see Rukia's head snapping up in attention at the mention of her brother from the corner of his eye. She seemed slightly confused at how he knew her brother's name.
"Oh I'm afraid Mr. Kuchiki is busy at the moment. Is it something important?"
"Ah yes it is it's about Rukia…"
"Oh the young lady Kuchiki! How worried I was when she never came home! Is she alright?" the woman exclaimed cutting Ichigo off.
"Yeah she's fine. Umm I really need to talk to Byakuya," Ichigo said nervously a bit thrown off by her sudden outburst.
"Oh of course. I'll let you talk to him momentarily," she said happily.
It went silent on the other line. After about a minute Ichigo could faintly hear the woman talking to another person about Rukia and then it was silent again.
"Where is she?" said a man on the other line. His voice was void of any emotion as if it didn't matter to him if his younger sister was alright or not. His coldness sent shivers down Ichigo's while his indifference towards his sister's wellbeing sent his blood boiling.
"Well you see your sister had been attacked by a couple of men and received several blows to the head." Ichigo tried to be as polite and formal as he could manage. There was no response.
"Is that it?" Byakuya replied still not showing any sort of concern.
"What do you mean is that all?" Ichigo said threateningly his anger towards Byakuya rising, "I just told you that your sister got attacked and you ask me that shitty question!" He was now yelling into the phone, "She was almost rapped! Does that not matter to you?"
During his angered filled rant Ichigo had forgotten that Rukia was still in the room. He also failed to notice that she had gotten out of bed and had walked towards him until she appeared beside him and put the phone on speaker. He was about to tell her to go back to bed but her expression stopped him. He couldn't help but stare at her. He was brought back into reality by the sound of Byakuya's voice.
"Why should I care? From what I have heard it doesn't sound like she's in critical condition to the point that she may die."
"So you're saying that you'll only care if she was close to death," yelled Ichigo his anger rising into levels he has never before reached.
"Of course not. It wouldn't matter to me even if she was to the brink of death," Byakuya said calmly while showing no remorse for his harsh words.
"WHAT?" Ichigo exclaimed shocked by his words. He saw Rukia slightly flinch at her brother's words but other than that she showed no emotion on her face. Her lack of emotion worried him a bit.
"In fact I wouldn't mind if the world is rid of another pathetic worth of space."
"How can you say that? SHE'S YOUR SISTER! DOES THAT NOT MATTER TO YOU! SHE WAS ALMOST RAPPED YOU SICK BASTARD!" Ichigo's was beyond feeling angry. He was positively filled with rage.
Byakuya didn't seem at all affected by Ichigo's words, "That does not concern me. In fact if anything this is all her fault. She was weak enough to let those men touch her. She was even weaker for requiring another person's assistance. If that is all you have to say then there is no need for this conversation to continue."
"WAIT…"
He had already hung up before Ichigo could continue.
"Damn it!" Ichigo yelled as he slams the phone into the receiver. He stands still for a while, trying to calm himself down. He hears Rukia mumbling beside him.
"He's right it's entirely my fault. Nobody else's but mine." Rukia's legs finally give out from under her and she fell to the ground on her knees.
"Rukia…" Ichigo sat down beside her but didn't dare touch her for fear that she may break into a million pieces.
Rukia tried to stand up. She ignored Ichigo's help and walked back to the bed. She lay down with her back turned towards Ichigo.
'My fault all my fault. I screwed up.' Rukia fell asleep as a tear rolled down her face.
Byakuya Kuchiki went back to work while his servant, who had stayed to hear the news about Rukia, stared at him disapprovingly. This wasn't left unnoticed.
"Why are you still here? Leave me with my work," Byakuya said without even lifting his head from his work.
She didn't move from her spot. "Why do you have to be so cruel? You know you didn't mean that."
He didn't respond and continued to work.
"Why don't you just admit it? That you care about your sister! That you were worried when she never came home! She your sister! No better yet she's HER sister!" she said unafraid of what he might do.
The pen stopped writing in his hand. He looked at her through his eyelashes, "I will say this only once I care not." He looked down and continued to sign papers, "I have no time to care for the weak."
She walked forward and slammed her hands against the table he was sitting in. He seemed unaffected by her actions and continued to write.
"She died a long time ago," she said sadly but with conviction laced in her voice, "Just…"
He immediately cut her off, "I grow tired of your insolence and your disobedience. I want you to leave this place immediately and never return."
"Fine," she exclaimed as she threw her hands up in the air, "Just wait one day she'll be gone too and you'll regret it!"
She stormed out the room and slammed the door behind her. After a few minutes he heard the front door slam as well. Byakuya stopped working, picked up the phone, and dialed a number.
"Police Department. How may I assist you?"
"This is Byakuya Kuchiki I was wondering if you have a filed report on the attacked of Rukia Kuchiki?"
"Yes it was just filed this afternoon."
Byakuya didn't expect that. He was about to hang up when his curiosity took over.
"May I ask who her perpetrators are?"
"Of course Mr. Kuchiki."
The police officer said their names and Byakuya hung up. He then got up from his desk and proceeded towards a little shrine with the picture of his late wife.
'Hisana I know that you are greatly disappointed with the way I treat Rukia. I know that you don't approve of me being harsh with her but what can I do. I promised my parents and you that I would raise her as Kuchiki should be raised. Also… I know that I promised you that I would protect her but it's seems that I have once again not kept my promise. It seems that I have made far too many promises in which I'm incapable of keeping. Please forgive me my dear wife.'
Author's Note: Aww Sorry Byakuya that your first appearance isn't a pleasant one. Hope you guys liked it. Happy Veterans Day. Let's give thanks to all of the veterans who have given their lives or their time to protecting us. And also to the soldiers who are currently doing that as well.
Ichigo: You're being awfully nice today.
Me: Of course a family member of mine is a veteran. She went to Iraq. But that's not the only reason they go into harm's way to protect us so it's only fair that we thank them in some way or form.
Ichigo: Wow and here I thought you didn't have a heart.
Me(hits with mallet): Oh Ichigo when will you learn not to fuck with me.
Ichigo: Oh great she's back.
Me: Anyways Hollow me if you would please do the honors.
Hollow Me: Ichigo's FAV Twin would like to thank you for reading. Don't forget to review… or else I'll go into your dreams and trust me it will not be a pleasant experience.
Ichigo: Why does that sound creepy?
Hollow Me: What did you say asshole? (Takes out sword) Get over here so I can kick your ass!
Ichigo: Shit not again! (Dodges an attack) I don't even have a weapon!
Me(Ignoring them): Until next time everyone. And remember a review a day will keep the hollows away.
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