Chapter Thirty
Cooking Basics…
Yuzu adjusted the temperature on the stove and turned to the kitchen island to hassle with ingredients. Rukia watched from the kitchen stool as Ichigo's little sister shined expertly in the kitchen.
Rukia wasn't sure if she was any good at cooking in the human world. From all accounts Orihime seemed to have a unique pallet and the others tolerated but didn't necessarily share the same taste as her.
No one really complained about her cooking but she wasn't sure if they appreciated it either. Hawaii did have excellent restaurants and she recalled the many times she spent eating at them.
"Do you need any help here," Rukia asked.
"You can chop veggies if you like," Yuzu said sliding over a chopping board and a bowl of vegetables.
Rukia stood up and began working on the vegetables.
"You're pretty good at this cooking thing," Rukia said.
"Thank you."
"Did Ichigo sometimes cook," Rukia asked.
"Have you ever seen him try, of course not," Yuzu said grinning.
"Oh I guess not," Rukia smiled picturing him yelling at vegetables. Even in the brief time they were together in their other world he didn't cook.
"I didn't mean to say never. He tries but I really took on the role ever since mom died. Doing this helps me keep that part of her alive…family dinnertime," Yuzu said concentrating on the stove. Rukia could tell from the sound of her voice that she was struggling not to cry.
Family dinner time would soon change as the house emptied and the Kurosaki's moved on. It wasn't lost on Rukia that Ichigo managed to miss three years of family dinners. She couldn't imagine what it was like for such a close-knit family to be separated for so long.
"I didn't mean to dredge up sad feelings," Rukia apologized.
"No its fine Rukia, cooking makes me happy. I can remember certain smells or tastes and they remind me of her you know," Yuzu asked.
"Yes that makes sense to me," Rukia smiled feeling a little better about their conversation.
"I like that you are talking to me. It is so hard here without mom. I mean Karin would careless about girly stuff…she tries but only so I'll cheer up," Yuzu said taking a pot off the stove and setting it on the counter.
"That's the kind of family you are," Rukia said trying to concentrate her knife strokes. She was actually doing seemingly well. At least kitchen prep could be added to her skills.
"Nice job," Yuzu complimented the smiling Rukia and added, "I know my family's fortunate. Then there's dad…and he's well…he's dad. Ichigo he's just what a big brother should be."
"I know what it's like to grow up around boys," Rukia said thinking of Renji.
"You wished for the same thing too Rukia. That sometime you could have a mom around too," Yuzu asked.
Yuzu was aware of her past as an orphan. It kind of surprised her a little.
"Yeah," Rukia answered, "sometimes but I loved the time I spent with Renji and the others. I don't think I would change anything. You're really lucky too having a family bond like this."
"I'm glad that Ichigo met you. You changed him. He smiles a lot more because of you," Yuzu said.
The food started to smell good. Rukia set down the knife and said, "I don't know about all that. I'm sure he'd be the same Ichigo regardless."
"I remember that time when we went to visit mother's grave. The memories are there and I know what happened," Yuzu looked Rukia in the eye, "so I'm sure about it. He was different then. I may not have seen what attacked me the same way Karin does but I know what I saw after. The change in Ichigo; so I'm sure I can recognize these things."
"These things," Isshin's questioned echoing Rukia's own thoughts.
"Hey dad," Yuzu called out.
"Hi Yuzu, Rukia," Isshin said.
"Hello Mr. Kurosaki," Rukia greeted.
"Damn phone you'd think they'd learn to make these things easier to use not harder," Isshin said taking a seat at the kitchen island.
"Hey Rukia. Dinner almost done Yuzu," Karin said following in behind her father.
"Almost," Yuzu called out.
"Dad it's only difficult for you," Karin said snatching the phone from her father's hand. After a quick adjustment she handed it back, "There you go dad now try not to mess up the settings. I'll be in my room…do not disturb…oh why even say things like that there's no such thing in this house."
"Don't say that sweetie don't you want to spend time with daddy," Isshin called out.
"I've had my fill," Karin called out leaving to go upstairs.
"Soon you'll leave me all alone and then what will become of poor daddy," Isshin wailed.
"Hey wait Karin where's Ichigo," Yuzu asked.
"At the store," Karin answered from the stairs, "said he'd be on time though."
Yuzu put the finishing touches on her dishes.
"I'm going to go clean myself up then serve dinner," Yuzu said.
"Great," Isshin said ecstatic.
"And don't you touch anything," Yuzu warned.
"What's with my girls giving me such attitude," Isshin said his head slumped to the counter a sign of defeat.
Rukia giggled to herself.
"Not you too Rukia," Isshin said.
"Not at all," Rukia replied.
"In all seriousness how are you dealing with everything," Isshin asked.
Rukia thought about it. She was doing pretty well. It wasn't like she had much of a choice. She was basically a parolee. Her sentence wasn't forever and she just wanted to focus on what good times she could have now no matter how naïve that seemed.
At least Ichigo would have the time to reconnect with everyone. It would be selfish to want more time with him after all the time they had together…wouldn't it?
"I'm trying to push it out of my mind," Rukia said.
"They're all taking it pretty hard. Karin pushes things like this away. That's probably why she's in her room. She'd deny that the sky was blue if it hurt her," Isshin said.
Rukia looked towards the stairs. When did everyone become so close to me?
It was bad enough facing Orihime, Uryû and Sado. To face Ichigo and his family with yet another goodbye was appalling to her. Even as long as they were apart she still felt at home here. They still treated her as one of them. If there is always a choice what choice should she make?
"I don't have much of a choice but to just accept things the way they are. They want me to let him go and let him live his life as normal as he's able to without my interference," Rukia said.
Things were not normal no matter what she did to convince herself. Her ring finger was empty that never felt normal. It took a while to finally take the ring off. They both agreed that if they were to marry it would be wholly their decision not some manipulation.
"Whatever normal can be for Ichigo…I'm pretty sure he won't let you just walk away from him," Isshin said.
"It's complicated," Rukia said. Maybe she needed the time to reconnect to what it was that she wanted in the here and now.
"What kind of game are they playing," Isshin asked. He knew that things were shaky with Rukia's sentence. By Rukia's own silence he knew that she wouldn't talk about it…or better yet she couldn't.
"A Kidô," Isshin asked.
Rukia's eyes lit up but she was unable to respond. It didn't matter because Isshin was fairly confident in his assessment.
"The past few days I've just kept busy so I couldn't slow down to think about anything. Going from one place to the next saying goodbye has taken its toll," Rukia said.
"Have dinner with us. Watch a movie or something with my son. Go on and enjoy this day and try not to think too much about saying goodbye. When the time comes it comes. Whatever happens we will deal with it," Isshin said standing.
Rukia nodded to him.
"I'm going to take care of some business you can go on and wash up for dinner," Isshin said leaving the kitchen to go to his office.
Rukia sat for a while looking around at the empty kitchen. Thinking of all the memories she had here.
I can do this. I can trust that this is where I belong.
It had nothing to do with the place. Everything to do with her feelings so she knew what to do as Ichigo came in announcing he was home.
000
"My sentence is-
Rukia stopped unable to get the words out to tell him. A Kidô spell just as Isshin suspected.
"Your sentence," Ichigo asked.
"I have to go back. This is goodbye," Rukia said looking at the faces of everyone gathered.
"Goodbye," Ichigo asked slowly, "What is this nonsense about goodbye?"
Rukia remained silent but Ichigo could see the acceptance and the lack of control in her eyes. He knew to push any further would just make things worse so he waited.
Looking at Kon she told herself it would somehow be worth it. He had his very own Gigai that was not unlike what she would imagine him looking like. He had a brown gold hair style that resembled the stuffed animal she had gotten so used to seeing.
The explanation that Kisuke gave didn't make much sense but from what she gathered his Gigai took on characteristics from Kon's consciousness. Basically it was the way that Kon saw himself. Karakura was in trouble with him roaming around. Kon could easily be Ichigo's brother.
Orihime solemnly sat quietly beside Uryû who seemed angry once again.
"How long is your punishment for," Sado asked.
"Sixty years," Renji said.
"How can you be so calm about all this Rukia," Kon asked.
"Kon shut up," Ichigo said.
"It's alright I can't change their minds. It's worth it that all of you are safe. You can go on and live," Rukia said trying her best to keep it together.
How many goodbyes did it take? She didn't want to cry.
"I won't accept this," Orihime said shaking her head.
"I'm sorry," Rukia said.
"Isn't there anything anyone can say to change their minds? Why single you out Rukia," Nozomi asked.
Rukia didn't dare to try to talk for fear her voice would crack and the resolve she had would melt.
Everyone sat in silence for a while. The sky started to darken. It would be night soon and by morning she would be gone.
"Everyone," Uryû said getting everyone's attention, "If this is our last day together with Rukia why should we sit around lamenting it. If this were your last day on earth how would you spend it? Certainly not moping around like we are doing now I hope."
Everyone stared at him this was not like Uryû. Ichigo couldn't be selfish enough to hope to spend his last day on earth with Rukia. He knew his friends would gladly let him though. That was the kind of people he surrounded himself with. They just got her back and he had all those years with her it would be a selfish move to take this away from them.
"Uryû's right," Orihime said smiling despite her tear-stained cheeks.
"Yeah let's do something," Ichigo agreed.
Rukia looked at them all the tears she couldn't hold back finally fell. Why should she be afraid to cry? Was humanity all that bad after all, she thought.
Ichigo wrapped his arms around her. He'd never let go she knew it.
"Dad knew," Ichigo wondered aloud. The family all acted a bit odd at dinner. They all seemed to know.
"He heard me talking to Renji. I was given three days and I wanted to make those days count for something. I wanted to leave you all with good times like Uryû said. I didn't want this to be so sad," Rukia said.
"I'll just have to find a way," Ichigo said swaying to some music in his head she supposed.
000
"Maybe she was an illusion," Renji suggested.
"No I don't think she was," Ichigo replied. He was sure the Hisana was the real deal in the time he spent in Hawaii.
"You aren't really good at sensing spiritual pressure so maybe I'm asking the wrong person," Renji said.
"Whatever how is Byakuya," Ichigo asked.
"Cool as ever. He's good at it. There is no way he'd let himself come apart over it. At least not publically," Renji said.
"It's hard to imagine him doing so even privately," Ichigo added.
"Yeah I know what you mean," Renji said.
"Why did they allow you to spend so much time here," Ichigo asked.
"I don't know. Part of me is grateful I had little resistance when it comes to spending time with everyone," Renji said.
"Spending time…Never mind the pretense you were still trying to find Rukia," Ichigo alleged.
"I'm that transparent," Renji asked.
"I'm no fool," Ichigo said a little harsher than he'd like to have.
"What do we do now," Renji asked.
"She's made up her mind to go back to the Seireitei. You have the advantage clearly," Ichigo said standing up to go. He was taking his frustrations out on Renji and this could only end badly.
"Ichigo I would never-
"Don't bother saying anything. If I thought that mattered I probably would be upset now," Ichigo said. A poor attempt to convince himself.
"So I'm no threat in other words," Renji said.
"I'm not going to lie it bothers me that you didn't say what I wanted to hear," Ichigo said.
"Meaning," Renji asked.
"Meaning: 'I won't go after Rukia,' 'we are only friends,' or something," Ichigo replied.
Renji wondered just why he didn't say those things. He knew he had to stop this snowball before it really became something. At the same time perhaps it was time to finally let her know just how he felt.
"This topic is pointless," Renji finally said standing to leave as well he paused adding, "After all what do you think is going to happen that hasn't in five hours, five days, three years or even fifty years' time?"
Ichigo wasn't buying it but said noting as Renji passed by.
"Anyhow I have to get going," Renji added.
"Alright then I'll see you later," Ichigo said walking the opposite direction. Already his weak anger at Renji seemed to dissipate.
"Keep us up to date if you learn anything about Hisana," Renji called over his shoulder.
"Right," Ichigo called out.