Hi there! Thank you for your reviews I'm bringing this time a long chapter, just like the good old times! Plenty of ichiruki! Enjoy and don't forget to review!
Rndd, je suis ravie de savoir que lit encore cette histoire! Moi aussi, je me trouve rarement ici. En faite je crois que c'est justement pour finir cette histoire. Bisous!
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52. Just the three of us
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She heard the alarm clock, but she couldn't move. In her deepest hopes she wanted to believe that she only dreamed the sound of the alarm, since not seldom this had happened recently. Unfortunately, the clock ringed again and when she slightly opened her eyes she saw herself surrounded by the little human room, cold and unfamiliar just like the new reality she was living in. She could no longer mistaken that she was awake. Her dreams had other colors and now they were somewhere faraway... along with her zanpakuto, Byakuya's rare smile and... Ichigo.
It wasn't unusual to think about them. She was living in Tokyo only for a month so she didn't totally get used to the idea of this being her home. Therefore, every morning, as the alarm was ringing, she was still hoping to find herself back in her old room at the Kuchiki mansion. When she was realizing that this was more than impossible she dreamed about Ichigo's closet... when she was understanding that this was also unreachable, she was finally stopping the alarm and get out of bed.
Lucky her- if she could say so- she didn't have much time to whine about the past since the morning sickness was overwhelming her. Among the all the bad things that happened to her lately, this was the only one she couldn't regret. No matter how messed up her situation was, she could only be happy for the little thing that was growing inside her. She gave up everything for it, but somehow she felt that once she will held it in her arms, the rest won't even matter.
Now this little thing was the only reason for which she was waking up in the morning and heading to work when outside was still dark.
She looked for the slippers and then she headed to the bathroom where she took the toilet seat in her arms. No different from yesterday, but she couldn't complain. No one said it's easy to be a mother as no one ever said how to be a mother. The only thing she could do was to try her best every day, even though at each step she had her doubts. She couldn't lie and say that this not being a job for two people... As a matter a fact not seldom she was wondering what Ichigo would do in such and such situation. It wasn't like she found him a mature person, but somewhere, very deep, she was acknowledging him as 'the father' and she wish she could put half of this burden on his shoulders. But in the end, of course, she knew she was the only one she could count on.
She really felt sick. She wish she could skip work today, but then who would pay the bills? Obviously not Ichigo. She got up and went into the shower. Maybe the hot water will make her feel better.
She wasn't upset with Ichigo not being there. No matter how she put this, she was the one to mess it up and now she had to deal with the hardships and his absence, as well. Oh! But how she missed him! Sometimes she felt like she could no longer bear it and the only thing to soft that feeling was the fact that the little one was a part of him as it was a part of her. Put it from this perspective, through the little baby Ichigo and Rukia would be inseparable and this way, a part of Ichigo will always belong to her. It's the part which made her believe that even though it was brief, they both shared some strong feelings that she, at least, won't be able to experience again. Some call that feeling true love... but now, the only thing she will love is her child to be. And her child will be a boy and it will have his eyes.
'Fair enough!' she told herself, but she knew that it was a bittersweet consolation. In her deepest dreams she was still waiting to hear the doorbell instead of the clock alarm and Ichigo on the other side of the door shouting "Baka! Why didn't you tell me?! About Byakuya and the baby?! About your true feelings?!"
But her doorbell never rang. She knew no one in Tokyo.
She shut off the water and stretched her hand to get the towel. The hot shower didn't do her any good and she really wanted to go back to bed. But again, who will pay the bills? She knew she was forcing herself and it wasn't any good for the baby, but she had no choice in order to ensure him the right conditions after it will be born.
She gasped and begin to get dressed. The day was long she was only at the beginning of it. In one hour she will already be in the coffee shop preparing the tables for customers and six hours later the children will be waiting for her at the day care... With two jobs and a baby on her own on the way, she had no time to lose.
She put her shoes on, took her purse... but then, as she turned back to check the room she noticed that outside it was still dark and chilly. For no reason she thought of Byakuya and his expression as she left the Kuchiki mansion.
It still hurt to think about him...and the fact that by now she could have been already a wife.
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In the morning of Orihime's wedding Ichigo had the feeling of not belonging to Karakura anymore. He knew that he will go back to Tokyo sooner or later. What he didn't know was that he will find Rukia there. What he didn't even dare to dream was that she will be expecting his child. Now in less than a hour the train will arrive at the destination and he still didn't know what he will tell her.
He checked his watch: 16:15. In no time he will arrive at the coffee shop she was working. He knew the area since it wasn't far from his university... but again, what was he going to tell her?! Should he buy flowers? Should he bring something for the baby like tiny cute shoes?
He gasped.
He didn't even had the time to change himself. He was still wearing the wedding suit. Maybe it will help him made a good impression. Or maybe not... wearing an elegant suit in full daylight would only make him look like a yakuza. The only thing missing were the tatoos. He passed a hand though his hair and ruffled it in order to make himself look more natural. After that he closed his eyes and thought about the times he was in highschool and he saw her stepping in his room thought the window...back then her hair was short and she was thin with a tom boyish appearance. Than her hair got even shorter. He couldn't say that he was crazy about that, but since she was his nakama it wasn't like he was paying a lot of attention to her looks. Even so, he loved her. But then, last year, during the summer break party at the campus a not very short women with long black hair came to visit him. She was wearing a perky dress that was pointing out her curved forms and she was staring at him with a pair of electrifying purple eyes. She looked like a teenager fantasy...and for the first time in his life he considered the idea of cheating on his girlfriend. Then the woman said: 'If i had my zanpakuto would had been easier for you to recognize me? Stupid, it's me, Rukia!". Again, It's not like he didn't like her before, but it was amazing how Rukia had the ability of continuingly adapting and surprising the others. Especially him... her new look was breath taking.
Suddenly the train stopped. He already was in Tokyo.
It was already 5 p.m. Where should he look for her first? At the coffee shop? At the kindergarten? Back home?
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"Kurosaki?..."
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"Oi, Kurosaki! Are you alright?"
As if she woke up from a dream, Rukia turned to her co-worker.
"Yes, i'm alright..." she answered in a faint voice, but it was obviously that she felt the opposite. Her sickness was getting worse. Now, beside nauseas, she also felt shivering and her bones hurt. She didn't even know if it was the baby or if she was sick. She thought of going to a doctor, but how could she? She wasn't human and her child was no regular child.
"You don't look alright, Kurosaki. If you want, i can talk to the boss and take the day off."
"There's no need. I'm leaving in an hour anyway, right? Maybe i'll call at the kindergarten and take the day off there."
"Kurosaki, it's Saturday. There's no kindergarten and Saturdays you are working late here, remember?"
So she was that tired. She even forgot what day it's today. So should she get the day off?
"Oh, you're right! I'm sorry... i'll go and take care of the customers now!"
"Are you sure about that?"
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Ichigo was in front of a nice coffee shop with indoor seating and outdoors tables as well. It looked like a neat place, with a white wood fence which made it look like an European garden. Leaning against the fence he looked around: two waitress, but no trace of Rukia. He checked the address to make sure it's the right place.
'Where are you Rukia?'
He wasn't even sure he was ready to see her. He didn't even brought any flowers or baby gifts... but he could no longer wait.
"Can i help you, sir?"
It was one of the waitresses.
"Please, tell me, is there anyone by the name of Kuchiki working here?"
The girl looked puzzled.
"No, sir. There isn't."
"Are you sure? What about Rukia?... Rukia Kuchiki?"
She frowned.
"We have a Rukia, but her name it's not Kuchiki. It's Kurosaki."
His heart skipped a beat as he heard his own name and hers together.
"I'm sorry, sir." the girl added, but his eyes widened as if he was in some kind of a trance.
" Still, would you like table here?"
He was led to the garden and while he was offered a menu, his mind could only repeat continuously the same words "Kurosaki Rukia... Kurosaki Rukia... Kurosaki Rukia." It made him think that after all, there was still hope. And then he saw inside the coffee shop a tiny porcelain face surrounded by black hair gathered in a loop on the top. He instantly got up from his seat as if he went on fire, but then, as everybody turned to him, he froze. He leaned back on his chair with a distrustful expression, trying to not to lose her of his sight.
'But what was that? She looks tired. Is she sick? No,no,no! Don't go! Come back! Please, come back!'
"Can i take your order, sir?"
Again, it was that waitress.
"Actually, can i have her taking my order?" he asked pointing at the porcelain beauty inside the shop. The waitress looked puzzled, but when he insisted trying to fake a Casanova smile, she just bowed and went inside the store.
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"Oi, Kurosaki! There's a weirdo wanting you to take his order."
Still half awake, Rukia barely noticed her co-worker.
"Oi, Kurosaki! Didn't you hear me?"
"Yes... what?" she finally answered.
"Look, there!" and the girl pointed at a table outside. "That guy wants you."
Rukia stretched her neck and saw a single man dressed in a elegant black suit. She couldn't see his face, though since it was covered by the menu, which apparently he was studying intensively.
"That one?" she asked.
"Yeah, the one who looks like he crushed a wedding or something..."
"Did he say why he wants me?"
The girl shrugged her shoulders.
"Maybe he likes you and it's your lucky tip day! But watch out, he's kind of strange."
Rukia gasped and put aside the silver she was polishing.
"My lucky day would be if no one would ask for me, so i can peacefully stay in the kitchen, just like boss allowed me to."
"He did? So you're still feeling sick?..."
Rukia made a sign as if it didn't matter and went outside. Her only thought was that she won't see the end of this day... She didn't know who that customer was, but she didn't like him. She just wanted to head back home and sleep.
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Ichigo covered his face with the menu. Of course he wasn't reading it. As a matter a fact it was upside down and he didn't even noticed it. His entire attention was put on the words he was going to utter in few moments. He heard steps approaching...'It's her! It must be her! Will she look different? Does her tummy shows already?'
"Good evening, sir. My name is Rukia and i'm here to take your order."
It was her voice. It lacked any kind of enthusiasm, but still, it was her voice. His heart begun to beat so fast and hard that he was afraid it will pop out of his chest and he will die before he'll get to see her face. Now, what will he say? He'll go with the classic "I love you, let's put the past aside and start from zero...etc., etc." Yet, there was something else bothering him...
"You said Rukia? Just Rukia? Or did i hear it well and it's Rukia Kurosaki?..."
He heard something dropping on the floor and as he could no longer bear the tension, he put down the menu. Then time stopped!
There she was in front of him with wide eyes and still as stone. Beautiful as a snow queen yet fragile as a dream. He opened his mouth, but no sound came out. In the end as no one made a move, she just grabbed from the floor her orders notebook and her pencil.
"Hi, Ichigo..." she finally said without looking at him. "So you're in Tokyo, huh? What a coincidence! So am i! I'm on a mission!"
And with that line the spell broke and he suddenly came to his senses.
"I left Inoue's wedding party, without even changing my clothes. I took the train all the way here as soon as i found out and...THAT'S THE BEST LIE YOU COULD COME UP WITH?!" He snapped so loud that she startled and everyone present turned to their direction.
Rukia backed off, almost scarred and he froze as he realized that his "getting her back" speech was ruined.
"I-i-i... d-don't understand..." she mumbled.
He cocked an eyebrow.
"So you're still denying it?"
"I-i-i..."
"Baka! Why didn't you tell me?!" he snapped again, but then his voice softened: " About Byakuya and the baby?! "
Her eyes widened even more and she dropped her notebook again, as she covered her mouth with her thin, delicate fingers.
"About the baby..." he repeated again and got off the chair, approaching her.
"Isshin... he told you! He told you, didn't he?" she mumbled almost crying, as she stepped back again.
"Of course he told me! And thank God he did!" he answered heading to her.
"No, Ichigo...Please, don't!... Stay where you are..."
He stopped with wide, worried eyes.
"It's alright Rukia... He told me about Byakuya, as well. I know that you left the Kuchiki familiy. I know that you sealed you zanpakuto and came here to live as a human."
Hearing that she took her face in her hands and started to tremble, while people were staring and the other waitress approached.
"Kurosaki, people are looking at you! What's happening?"
"Nothing is happening!" Ichigo snapped annoyed. "Would you leaves us alone?"
"Sir, with all due respect, i wasn't talking to you..." the waitress answered tensed.
"With all due respect, lady, i'm telling you that Kurosaki is my name."
Her eyes widened and Rukia begged him to stop. The waitress looked at each of them, as if she finally understood what was going on and then she silently backed off, trying to distract the customers from them.
"Rukia, i know it was all a misunderstanding..." Ichigo finally said.
"There was no misunderstanding." she spoke coldly, as she came to her senses. "I truly was engaged to Byakuya-sama..."
"But you broke the engagement, so that you could be with me."
"Ichigo! Cut it!" she suddenly raised her voice. "I know that you are here just because of the baby!"
"Of course i'm here for the baby! Who father wouldn't?!"
"Even one who despises the mother of that child?" she snapped back.
His eyes widened shocked.
"You think i despise you?..."
She didn't answered so he gasped and leaned on the chair with an exhausted expression.
"Rukia...i am so tired of lies and misunderstandings. I should have clear this from seven years ago...i should have told you that night at the Ryoing party... i should have told you that night when we were together. I know, Rukia that we both made mistakes, but in the end i just..."
He stopped, taking a deep breath.
"Rukia, no matter what your final decision will be, i want you to know the truth. I want to hear me out once. Only this time..."
And he got up again, grabbing her shoulders.
"Rukia...i don't despise you! Rukia, i love you!"
He felt her trembling, but he could no longer held back. He needed to confess everything.
" I always loved you. Back from highschool when i didn't even know what being in love meant. I loved you at the end of all the wars. I loved when i was in college and i wasn't able to see you... After that, the entire world is my witness of how irreversibly i fell in love with you once more when i saw you at the summer party, last year. Furthermore, you have no idea of how much i loved that night when you gave yourself to me for the first time. Rukia, you wouldn't believe me, but even when i found out about your engagement with Byakuya i couldn't get myself to hate you... i was still hopelessly in love with you. So don't tell me that i am here only to take the responsibility of one night stand. You have no idea how i felt when dad told me that you cut your ties with the Kuchikis. I felt like i could breathe again... so please, imagine how i felt when i found out that a part of me is growing inside you... and that part will grow and call you "mommy". Imagine that Rukia... and then imagine me without you and our child!"
He breathed hardly and slowly let go of her shoulder.
"Please, before sending me away...consider all i've said. Because in the end this is the only truth i know..." he finally added.
For a few moments she didn't say anything as she couldn't find her words. She just stayed there with a tormented expression, until she finally she managed to say:
"All that my poor hear wanted, was for you to be happy. You have no idea how much i regret giving you the shinigami power. I know you saved Soul Society countless times, but i also know how heavy all this went on your heart... so i couldn't help but regret the fact that you met me. I wanted to give back your old life and that's why you went to college... I thought you'll be happy that way, so why are you telling me that your only happiness lies beside me? It's not fair! I only put you in danger! You only got hurt because of me! I told you! I was truly engaged to Byakuya-sama! I did have feelings for him!"
"Then why did you leave him? Why did you come back to me? Was it because of the baby?"
"No, Ichigo!"
"Then was it because of the shame?"
"Partially..."
"Partially?... Rukia, why don't you tell the truth once for all?
She bowed her head.
"What do you want to hear? That i dishonored my family, myself and my duties as a shinigami... just so that i could have one night with you? That i left my entire life just so that i can have your child? This is the truth you want to hear?... the truth of how worthless i am?
"Rukia... these are facts and some of them are not even as you see them, but that's not what i need to know. Please, tell me your what your feelings are. No more mistakes, no more misunderstandings, no more lies, worlds and rules to come between us... Rukia, what do you feel?"
She raised her eyes worried and unconfident.
"I feel like i can't..."
She gasped and bowed her face again.
"I love you, Ichigo..." she finally answered.
"Do you?"
"Yes." she confirmed, raising her chin with a pitiful expression. "I love you more than my shinigami duties, more than my home...more than Byakuya..."
He stood silent for a moment, as if he was trying to make sure that he wasn't dreaming. Then, he suddenly snapped.
"Then let us be a family! I swear i won't let anything to come between us again! Nothing! I'll work my ass so that you and the baby to have anything you wish! We will be a normal human family! We'll go on vacations together! We'll plan our life together! Just the three of us!"
Rukia was shocked.
"Just the three of us?"
"Yes, just the three of us! Please say yes!"
Her chin began to tremble and she looked more vulnerable than ever. Yet more beautiful than ever.
"Ichigo... this is... you can't..."
"What? I didn't hear you!" he insisted.
"Ichigo, you can't make decision like this in the heat of the moment. This is..."
"No, no! I said i didn't hear you, Rukia!"
She gasped.
"Uh... ok..."
"What?!" he snapped.
"I said 'Yes'!" she shouted with an embarrassed expression and before she could say anything else lift her in his arms and pressed his lips on hers.
"Say it again!" he whispered.
"Yes, Ichigo..."
And that finally put a smiled upon his face.
"Now allow me to kiss you again. You have no idea how much i missed it!"
But before he could do that a pair of heavy steps approached from behind.
"Kurosaki!" a short man with preeminent belly shouted angrily, followed by the other two waitresses. Rukia's eyes widened worried and she tried to get off his arms, reaction which made him presume that the old man was her boss.
"Kurosaki! the man shouted again. "What's all this?! You're still in front of the customers! Don't make me..."
But Ichigo turned to him with a bored air, while he didn't let go of Rukia.
"Ojii-san, i'm sorry to inform you but Mrs. Kurosaki will quit her job. If you wonder, It's Mr. Kurosaki who said so!"
And after that, he slowly exited the coffee shop garden, ceremoniously carrying Rukia in the bridal style, while she was angrily commanding him to put her down and let her go back to work. Of course, he didn't even bother to listen to her and she wasn't truly angry. As a matter a fact her chicks were red again and her eyes electrifying as if all her sickness miraculously vanished.
This time there was no room left for the unexpected.
This time they will do things the right way...there was room left only for the truth.
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But somewhere on the invisible side of the world someone wasn't ready to face the truth yet. For him Rukia was still walking on the halls of the enormous mansion. For him Haruna still was the Nene-cha, incapable of doing something that could hurt anyone else beside her. For him it was still a time for grieving... and yet...
"I suppose that's her first love. You know, that unless it dies, you can't compete with it..." her velvet voice whispered from the darkness of the studio.
"I was wondering how much you were planning to stay hidden thinking that i can't sense you." his cold, impenetrable voice answered.
"You were silent and lonely here for hours..."
"And hours it's been since i asked you to live this place."
"If you truly didn't want me here, you would have had me gone by now. But you do want me here, even though it's wrong and dangerous, since you can't control around me, Toto... It's just like i told you: first love never heals..."
"Don't be silly and try to reduce me to such feelings only."
"Don't be cocky and think too high of yourself. Your heart was always the one to fail you."
"Haruna, don't waste your words. I know about the Kazuki blade. I know that you gave it to Oza and he tried to kill Rukia with it."
"Do you have any proof of that?"
"Do i need one?"
"Let's day you don't. What are you going to do? Kill me?... I told you, Toto, first loves always make us vulnerable. Besides, i'm the only one left here to understand and protect you..."
"I will check tomorrow the kazuki blade which lies at your father's house. If i find it to be fake and the original it's back with Oza you can presume the consequences."
"Toto... don't be so hasty... i know that Rukia is consuming you more than this whole Prisoners thing...So tell me will you allow those two doves a happily ever after ending?"
He didn't answer.
"Will you inform the Elders that the clan no longer has a heir? That its head has no longer a wife to be?"
"These are no aspects to concern you. So leave, Haruna. Go back to the place you came from..."
"Oh, Toto... why can't we live pretending that nor Rukia or Kurosaki Ichigo never exited?"
"Leave, Nene-cha...before you irreversibly put yourself in danger."
"So you felt it too, didn't you? That war is coming again?"
"Weren't you the one to bring it with you, Nene-cha?"
But this time, only the silence could be heard in the dark studio. And somewhere faraway in the halls of the mansion, the memory of Rukia's steps following the head of the clan's shadow. Even Byakuya had to admit that, back then it was easier to think about her... that even when he wasn't looking at her she seemed closer.
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To be continued...
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SO this is the end of the PART TWO- THE UNEXPECTED. To make it brief, the unexpected was about Rukia's pregnancy and Byakuya's feelings for Haruna.
The next part it's a sweet one composed by ONE SHOTS regarding Ichigo and Rukia's life together in Tokyo. Just a simple human life. It will not be very long, but i'll make sure to make it pleasant. SO more ICHIRUKI to be! ( Byaruki fans, don't lose hope... i don't know why, but i also always preferred Byakuya)
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And one last thing! Don't forget to review!