[The Moon and Sun #5]:
Author's Note:
Onward Onward to Chapter 5 my dear Readers! :D
I do hope you guys can leave some reviews for me at least,
it's quite disheartening you see :(
Anyways moving on~
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I do not own Bleach or any of it's characters!
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Enjoy!
Rukia's POV:
We have arrived at the long awaited destination, backs and bums sore after staying somewhat stationary at the back of the vehicle. My hair was tangled up into a black mess after the harsh tossing against the harsh wind. I let my fingers glide through, slowly untangling them when a big hand placed over the crown of my head and tussled them around. Hearing that oh-so-familiar deep-voiced chuckle from behind me, I swung back my elbow and heard my favored response "Ouch! Midget!" well, only the first part that is at least. I heard his shoes crunch against the gravel as he walked to my front and pinched my nose, I winced slightly at the pain before smacking his tummy, earning release. "Why'd you do that for?!" he grumbled as he bent down so his face was directly at my level.
"You messed up my hair baka, now it's even more tangled than it was before!" I yelled and met his glare, not backing down. We stood there and glared at each other before a cough from our side came to interrupt. "Stop bickering like an elderly couple you two" Ishida mumbled from behind his hand and pushed his glasses up, a habit of his that was definitely noticed by everyone. "Yeah, get a room" Tatsuki chortled, earning a giggle from Orihime but a growl from the both of us.
Orihimi took the lead and led us to our temporary stay for the next few days, a summer house that her parents had lent to us so kindly to use. It was a three storied house that had bright yellow lemon-ny coat to match it's surrounding. To add to it's welcoming outlook, patches of flowers bloomed on the lawn of grass that sprouted surrounding; definitely an ideal location for a vacation. The inside was not a let-down as well, though the simple layout, it gave out off a homely and warm feeling. "You guys can choose the rooms on the second floor, there's four rooms and each with a bed for two so we would have to share. There is a bathroom located at the end of the hallway, one in the master's bedroom and another in the kitchen!" Orihime chirped.
Everyone stood in silence and was about to head off to explore the house before Tatsuki broke the ice "wait, you said four rooms right?" to which Orihime nodded happily "but there are five guys and three of us girls, so does that mean.."
"Yoohoo! That means I get to share a room with one of you" Keigo's eye glistened at the thought of sharing the room with any of the girls.
"You wish! You'll be the last candidate!" as Tatsuki shook her fist dangerous in Keigo's face.
"So how are we going to settle this?" Ichigo asked.
"Ahh, I've got an idea" Orihime bounced enthusiastically "we do a draw! everyone of us write our name on a piece of paper and we choose two at random! The two names that are picked will be the ones sharing the room!"
The other seven of us nodded in agreement at the shockingly good idea that came from the usually overly imaginative auburn haired doe. After writing on the pieces of paper that Orihime had passed to us, we still had one problem. "Erm.. so what are going to use as the box to draw?" as if Ishida had read my mind.
We instinctively looked around before my eyes landed on the brown object that was perched on the strawberry's head. I was sure my grin was reaching to the both sides of my ears (if it was ever possible) as I made my way toward Ichigo and snatched the hat that he had worn.
"Hey!," he fussed and tried to make a grab at it but failing.
"We can use this" pointing to Ichigo's hat "Ichigo has so kindly volunteered his beloved belonging as a sacrifice to solve our current problem" sarcasm at it's best, and Ichigo just shrugged seeing how I was actually right and that no harm was going to be done to his possession. I tossed the eight balled up strips in and shook it around to mix up the order. The 'representative' Chad, was chosen at random to have the honor of picking the two papers from the hat. He placed his giant tanned arm in a picked one up, passing it to me.
"First name is..." I could really hear the drumroll now, it would have been the perfect effect on the 'tense' announcement "Strawberry" I read and smirked while the called owner sulked. Keigo whined about not being the one being chosen and how Ichigo was so lucky to be the one sharing a room with a girl. Chad repeated his actions and I slowly unrolled the piece of paper, the answer to the problem, the last piece of the puzzle. I swore I saw a glimpse of Orihime clutching her dress tightly in anticipation.
I smiled and hoped that she would be the one to get to share a room with carrot-top, seeing how she had feelings for him it would be good for them to bond. After all Ichigo, though I would hate to admit, was quite a gentlemen and would definitely never harm Inoue in any ways. A name was finally uncovered, crumbled but clear in sharp black ink. Then I nearly choked.
I stood and stared dumbly at the written word, sweat-dropped. I couldn't believe the misfortune that always came to me whenever at crucial times like this. I cursed myself and hope that it was just my eye sight that was failing me, I blinked one twice but it does not change a single letter. "Oi, so who's going to share a room with me" I felt a light tap on my shoulder and looked up, trying to seem nonchalant about it. Despite my forced cool and undisturbed expression, I could not bring myself to speak so I did what was the easiest to explain my predicament and lifted the paper for everyone to see.
It read, clear as day 'Rukia Kuchiki'
Ichigo's POV:
My jaw nearly dropped to the ground when I read the name off the white piece of parchment and I immediately when into the three stages of emotions at that time: First was ignorance when I read the paper the first time and shrugged. Second was denial when I read the name another two times in disbelief. Third was shock when realization of how this was not a dream nor a nightmare. It hit me hard when I finally got full grasp of the situation I was in. I was going to share a room with a girl?!...I shook my head slightly to calm myself, after all it was Rukia, she was my closest friend, 'it would be like in a room with my own sister right?..right' I confirmed
I closed my mouth immediately when I noticed how it hung open and thought carefully before speaking "I'm okay with it, is it okay with you Rukia? I'll sleep on the couch instead if you mind" I offered, not wanting to push her out of her comfort zone.
Her violet eyes seemed to waver for a moment, just one mere second as if she was having an internal conflict before she confidently replied "no Ichigo, don't be stupid, we'll share the room" before giving me a soft gentle smile.
"So it's settled! Do whatever you have to and meet here in an hour's time!" Tatsuki seemed like a Captain giving orders to her soldiers before marching off and pulling Inoue up to the second level.
Rukia got her bags off the floor and threw mine to me, she was at the foot of the stairs and started heading up, but not before challenging me "last one up owes the winner a meal!" she shouted before dashing up. "Hey no fair!" I wasted no time and chased after her, trying to catch up. She reached the top of the stairs and looked smugly at me, damn the midget and her speed! "That's cheating you know" I grumbled but she just nudged me without care and stuck out her tongue "still a winner!~" before turning on her heels and headed to check the rooms.
All the other ones were already occupied so we walked towards the remaining room. It was by understanding that our friends had gave us a privilege of the master bedroom as a sign of thanks for not making a fuss of the arrangements. Truth be said, the one thing that took our attention instantly was the one large bed that occupied the middle of the room. Both of us silently unpacked our belongings, drawing an imaginary line between us, her stuff on the right end of the room while mine of the left. After making sure everything was in satisfactory position, I refocused to Rukia and found her having her hard time combing her hair. "Don't you dare even laugh Ichigo, now it's really tangled up" she scolded before continuing to tug the comb through her midnight hair.
By the rate she's going it'll probably end up with no progression, I sniggered and walked up to her, holding my hand out. Her face was of pure confusion when she just stared blankly and tilted her head to the side. I sighed and rolled my eyes before snatching the comb from her tiny hands. She was about to protest but stopped when I sat behind her. "I'll help you, just stay still and let me know if it hurts" I started by sorting the layers, spreading it on my hands and gently combing through the tangles. She must have taken really good care of it seeing how it was absolutely delicate and smooth to touch, the light smell of fruity scent wafted to my nose 'hmm strawberry shampoo?' I smiled unknowingly why.
I glanced up and stared straight into the reflection on the mirror, just as she stared back at me, our eyes fixed as we froze. Her cheeks turned a soft velvet red as she averted her gaze to somewhere else. Breaking out from the awkward yet soothing moment that I couldn't understand I told her that I was done and she said her thanks. Her hands lightly brushing against mine as I placed the comb in her hand, sending waves of warmth down my spine.
Unbeknown to the two, someone stood hidden behind the wall and had witnessed that moment..