Parrie is an OC.
Chapter Forty-four
Work…
Nozomi was gone, Rukia was also gone in the Sereitei and now Orihime was taking off for some Australian adventure.
Meanwhile Sado is contemplating the tour with Huyu's band Ordinary Work. Ichigo and Uryû are busy with extended schooling. Tatsuki learned why she is so sensitive to spiritual phenomenons from her father. Regardless of the information she now knows she was going away to take part in another Karate international tournament if her skills improved enough she could even go to the Summer Olympics.
The search for the Keiei continues as the fights with Athen and the Gong-Si take their toll on the Shinigami. Hisana's trail has gone cold however squad six continues on with their investigation.
000
The flight was long and uneventful. Orihime yawned and rubbed her eyes as she set aside the magazines she had flipped through. The excitement of pre-travel had worn out. She half listened to the instructions as the plane began to empty.
At the airport she made her way to the luggage pickup. The welcome sign for the Chef Program was difficult to miss. Smiling she took a deep breath and headed towards the small group that gathered there.
An enthusiastic man welcomed her checking his list he said, "You must be Orihime Inoue."
She nodded.
"Welcome to the group I'm Parrie," the young man said a strong Australian accent coated his words this time.
"Nice to meet you Parrie," Orihime greeted accepting her welcome.
"Everyone," he turned and announced returning to his tour guide sounding voice, "The last flight for this group has arrived so we will be heading out."
000
Weeks went by and Ichigo resumed his normal existence the best he could without Rukia. Their feelings for each other were the same and yet they kept their distance. Ichigo in his world and Rukia in hers; separated by something he couldn't explain to anyone outside the crazy circle of family and friends who knew everything.
Home for the holiday season he tossed and turned unable to find comfort in his tiny room.
Ichigo forced himself out of bed and headed to the kitchen. His coffee routine was a habit he couldn't break yet. He could empathize with his father who was once a smoker; imagining just how it would be without caffeine…he had to kick the habit.
Unfortunately this wasn't the morning to quit cold turkey as Yuzu had the thought to brew some. He thanked her and set his mind on auto pilot as he got ready for the day.
000
Squad thirteen barracks were serene and the Captain sat enjoying tea as he addressed his subordinate Sentaro.
"Byakuya sees himself in Ichigo in many ways. I'm not saying that the circumstances are the same but he can see where everyone was coming from back when he married Hisana. He knows Ichigo's feelings looking back on his past," Jûshirô said sipping the tea.
"Well it's been a while since I sat around calmly in this place," Ichigo announced joining the group.
"We were talking about you and Kuchiki," Sentaro spoke up.
"Oh," Ichigo looked away at the lake.
"We'll I have lots of work to do I can't leave it all up to that idiot Kiyone," Sentaro said getting up to leave.
"Get along you two," Jûshirô said waving Sentaro off.
Ichigo sat in silence for a while. Rukia's squad was interesting. They didn't seem so gun-ho for a fight it was peaceful and calm around here.
"So you were talking about Rukia…and me," Ichigo asked.
"More specifically the Kuchiki we were talking about was Byakuya," Jûshirô said grinning.
"That jerk he's always insisting that I belong in the world of the living but he knows I'll just keep going wherever she goes," Ichigo said.
"Does he really know that," Jûshirô asked.
"He should…why do you ask that," Ichigo questioned.
"He made a promise to Hisana. He's a man of his word to a fault. He swore to her that he'd take care of Rukia as his own sister. By taking her in as a Kuchiki that promise outweighs anything you have to say to him," Jûshirô said.
"I get it the Kuchiki house has responsibilities. Rukia has responsibilities as a member of that household. Being a member comes at a price," Ichigo said.
"Then you also understand there are obligations that Rukia must fulfill," Jûshirô asked.
"I get that…wait a minute what obligations…are you trying to tell me that they have someone lined up for her," Ichigo asked.
Somehow Ichigo mind pictured that guy in his mind. He wanted to punch him instantly.
"In so many words I guess that it is what I'm saying. You know a little about the Royal families in the Seireitei already so you must have a picture of how things work," Jûshirô said.
Ichigo did remember the Kasamioji's. He also knew a little about the powers of the Shihôin clan as well.
"Who is he," Ichigo asked.
"I wouldn't know," Jûshirô smiled waving his hands.
"She can't just take off and marry some other guy. As her Captain you would know the most about your squad members so wouldn't they at least let you know," Ichigo asked.
"There's no rule, law or exception in your case Ichigo. I can't tell you something to make you feel better. I wish I did know who they have in mind but it is as I said. The Kuchiki are a Royal family so they have their own independent principles," Jûshirô replied.
000
Ichigo confronted Rukia with his latest information. His plans were going south fast and all he did was speak to her Captain so far.
"Why didn't you tell me about this other guy Rukia," Ichigo said pacing the floor.
"What are you babbling on about now," Rukia said sitting up.
"This guy you're supposed to marry the potential successor to Byakuya and the future Kuchiki clan leader," Ichigo asked leaning against the wall.
"Successor to Byakuya, are you serious?"
"Don't I look serious," he asked and quickly added, "Never mind that you're supposed to marry some other guy who's all chose for you or whatever."
"And here you thought you only had to worry about Renji. We'll I never met such a person I'll have to ask about it," Rukia said.
"How are you still calmly flipping through that book," Ichigo asked in frustration.
"As opposed to shouting and getting all worked up over something I know little or nothing about. I wonder," Rukia said.
"Why can't you understand how I feel," he asked looking at her.
She stopped and set the Seireitei Bulletin down. He seemed very serious and hurt. What could she say to him?
"I didn't know. Understand how I feel. Even if I knew this guy or any of the Kuchiki plans what could I do about any of it," she asked standing up.
She stared at him for a moment in silence. There were no answers given to her so she started to leave.
"Rukia wait," he called after her.
She had already left and was walking with purpose…on top of the railing.
"What the hell are you trying to do from up there," Ichigo called out.
"I was trying to get away from you can't you take the hint," Rukia said staring down angrily.
"You're not angry so just stop making that face at me and come down," Ichigo said.
Rukia ignored him and continued her balancing act on the wall. She moved pretty quickly despite the disadvantage of being on a narrow brick wall. Ichigo walked besides her doing his best to keep up. He didn't know why he bothered but something told him that she wasn't finished telling him off and it would bother her if she didn't get it all out there.
Rukia jumped from the wall and landed on the roof of some storage shed. Ichigo peered into the shed his interest piqued by some of the old-fashioned garden tools inside. Sometimes it felt as if he were on the set of some movie when he came to the Seireitei.
"It's not as if I purposefully came after you like a hunter or something," Rukia said.
Ichigo made his way to sit next to her on the roof. So she wants to talk after all. Ichigo mentally congratulated himself for reading her mood before speaking up.
"So you weren't trying to get rid of me after all," he said grinning at her.
They were silent for a while watching Shinigami milling around the Seireitei walls. Ichigo thought about the first time he watched this evening view. Years ago now he sat on a roof like this contemplating how he would save her life. Things didn't change much; she was still talkative and stubborn.
"I sort of fell into your life and everything after that was unexpected for me," she said looking at him.
"It is ok I might have over done it reacting the way I did," he said.
"Some things never change. You're passionate and sensitive but you never seem to listen to what I'm saying. If you did then you wouldn't bother worrying about my brother," Rukia said.
"Sensitive? I'll never live that down if you call me that in front of anyone," Ichigo said.
"Come on now who are you afraid I'll tell, Renji. Please he comes up with plenty on his own he doesn't need me to goad you on," Rukia said laughing.
"I thought a lot today about the first time I came to the Seireitei. When I first met Byakuya I tried to understand why he didn't try to save you. I put myself in his shoes imagining what I would do if it were Yuzu or Karin about to be executed.
I never understood and the whole thing just made me angry. Looking back now I understand him more," Ichigo said.
"You understand him how," Rukia asked.
"What you said to me about running away with me; if Yuzu or Karin pulled something like that I'd probably go after me too," Ichigo said.
Rukia laughed picturing it. That scenario was likely a very real possibility.
"I wouldn't want my sisters to go off with someone when I made a promise to protect them…a promise to the one person I'd risk everything for," Ichigo said thinking back on Jûshirô's description.
At some time Byakuya went off and married Hisana despite all his fancy talk of pride. In that moment he seemed very human to Ichigo.
"The situation is completely different with you and me. You can't put yourself in his shoes," Rukia said.
"I understand that. I just want to understand him more," Ichigo said.
"For what purpose are you trying to understand him more," Rukia asked.
"That's obvious Rukia," he replied.
"You were talking to someone weren't you," she asked.
"Maybe," he answered with a shrug.
"Maybe?"
"Never mind."
"Well maybe Byakuya is on your side just think about it," she said.
"I guess."
It actually made sense that Byakuya would be on their side. He really did think about it today and Byakuya's actions did seem to speak louder than all his talk of pride. Or was that Ichigo's wishful thinking speaking loudly to him. They still had to worry about this arranged marriage that might be in the cards for Rukia.
"Anyway if you keep moping around I'll have no choice but to check out this new guy I'm supposed to marry," Rukia smiled and stood up.
"Hey!"
"I wonder what he looks like," Rukia said dreamily.
"Stop that."
"Don't be so sensitive," Rukia said jumping away from his angry gaze.