MEH, MEH MEH! This is probably my longest chapter EVER, but I feel I will improve! Sorry it took so long. Homework was a bitch! This is chapter 4 of The Stray! So, enjoy!
It took three hours, but the kitchen was finally cleaned. Allison and Yoruichi sighed. They were tired and still a filthy mess themselves. The batter had dried, scabbing on their clothes, skin, and hair. Both of the girls were calm on the inside, but their minds were screaming at the fact that the batter was still in their hair! Rukia on the other hand was impressed. The kitchen was spotless! It's too bad there were no cupcakes... she was craving something sweet.
"I'm proud of you girls. You worked hard. I think you've suffered enough." Rukia said, crossing her arms.
"Great, now I can go take a shower." Yoruichi said before hurrying to her room. Renji had stepped in the kitchen, looking at Allison with his arms crossed.
"And what do you have to say for yourself, young lady?" Renji asked in a serious tone. Allison only stared at Renji, then to Rukia and back to her boyfriend. She grinned widely before running right past him like a mouse.
"I call shotgun!" she yelled. Renji ran right after her.
"Oh no you don't! You're not sitting in my car until you take a bath!" he shouted. Rukia was left laughing in the kitchen. She sighed after her laugh attack. She loved her friends. It's moments like this these where she wished Byakuya was here. The Byakuya she knew. The one who would've dealt with the punishment in a not-so-serious way. If he would've seen his kitchen in the way it was not so long ago, he would've had a fit. Rukia sighed. She missed Byakuya. The old one.
Rukia heard the shower run and knew it was Yoruichi. That's when she remembered Ichigo. He was here when those two had a reenactment of World War I in her kitchen. She hoped to God he wasn't traumatized. Grabbing a rag and running it under some warm water. She then made her way up the steps and walked to the first door on the right. She gave a soft knock, but didn't hear a reply.
"Ichigo?" she called, but there was still nothing. "Ichigo, make yourself decent. I'm coming in." Rukia said firmly before opening the door and walking in. Her jaw dropped when she saw Ichigo hiding under his bed. She walked over and got down on her knees, and peered under the frame. She saw a pair of bright chestnut eyes staring back at her, frightened and innocent. Plus another pair of hazel eyes from the fat cat scrunched up next to him.
"Ichigo, why are you under here?" she asked, extending her hand. Ichigo took her hand gently and she pulled him out with little effort. Ichigo sat on his bed, his face red with embarrassment. Rukia sat next to him, wondering why he was under the bed. As if a monster was after him. "Ichigo, you can tell me. I won't tell anyone." Rukia said softly. Ichigo eventually turned to the shorter woman, the right side of his face still covered in flour. He looked so sad and scared.
"I... thought there was going to be yelling..." Ichigo said so softly Rukia could barely hear. She was confused at this. Yelling? What for? Sure the girls made a humongous mess, but it wasn't anything worth yelling about.
"Why would you think we were going to yell?" Rukia asked him. Ichigo shrugged his shoulders, not wanting to answer. Rukia sighed. Looks like cracking Ichigo from his shell was going to be tougher than she thought. He was still scared and timid. Rukia wondered if she was ever going to be able to break him of it, but the more important question here was, why did he think there would be yelling? Inching closer to the tall male, Rukia looked at him. "Ichigo, does yelling... make you feel nervous?" she asked him. He winced hard and started to shiver. She sparked another flashback.
"I don't want to talk about it!" Ichigo said on the defensive. His hands scrunched the blanket in a dangerous grip. Rukia looked away. What the hell happened to this kid? The tiniest things set him off. This was getting serious now.
"I understand, Ichigo..." she said softly. Ichigo, after a few minutes of heavy breathing, relaxed. He looked down at the floor, lost in his own mind. Rukia looked back at him. The white flour on his face gave him a phantom-like look. His skin was already pale enough. Now he looked ghostly.
"Can I ask another question, Ichigo?" Rukia asked. Ichigo hesitantly looked to her. He looked deep into her violet eyes. He didn't want her to interrogate him. That's the last thing he needed.
"I... guess..." he finally responded.
"Will you let me clean your face?" she asked. Ichigo's eyebrows rose when she held up the wet rag. She smiled slightly, that warm smile he's known for the past few days. He had totally forgotten that there was flour on his face. He still wasn't sure if he wanted her to touch him, but then again, they did hug this morning. He nodded and bent forward, letting Rukia wipe his face clean of the white powder. After a few seconds, Ichigo's face was spotless.
"Thank you..." he whispered. Rukia nodded.
"Anytime. I hope those two didn't scare you." Rukia said. Ichigo shook his head.
"No. Not too bad that is." he joked. Rukia giggled. Next time she'll be sure to lock all the cabinets to make sure those girls won't be able to get into trouble, but she had to admit, it was pretty funny. Kon jumped up on the bed with a lazy meow and settled himself in a ball next to Ichigo's thigh. Ichigo looked at the cat with curiosity. He's never been around animals, so he was a little nervous around this cat.
"It looks like he likes you, Ichigo." Rukia noticed. Kon never took well to strangers. Not even Byakuya or Renji, and he's known those two for almost a year now.
"He's been following me for a few days." Ichigo said. Rukia gave him a look.
"A few days? But Byakuya found him yesterday." Rukia said, not understanding what he meant. Ichigo swallowed hard again.
"When I was... still outside, he would follow me." he started. "I didn't have the heart to return him because I thought you and your family would get angry at me for stealing the wood..." he explained with a frown. Rukia now understood why Kon wasn't found. He had gone with Ichigo for some reason. "He stayed underneath the rock with me during the blizzard. He kept me warm, so I guess he's returning the favor?" Ichigo wondered. Rukia was stunned. She had no idea Kon had gone with Ichigo. The only question that she couldn't understand was why Kon had followed a complete stranger, but she didn't feel like investigating on this. Kon was back and that's all that mattered.
A sudden loud growl sounded and Ichigo's face went bright red. He looked away and shuffled slightly on the bed. Rukia had to give it all her might not to burst out laughing.
"Perhaps your hungry?" Rukia suggested. Ichigo didn't speak. He was starving. He hadn't eaten all day. He was hoping for some sweets, but because Yoruichi and Allison had a war, his hopes were killed. "I can cook tonight. I don't think Yoruichi will be getting out of the shower for a while." Rukia smiled. Ichigo didn't say anything. He didn't want her to cook only for the likes of him, but he was hungry. Denying her food may insult her. "How does cucumbers and eggs sound?" Rukia asked, getting up to walk away. Ichigo looked at her with a surprised look. She was really going to cook for him?
"I'll eat anything, Rukia. I don't mind what you make." he responded. Rukia rolled her eyes and smiled at him.
"If you say so. It'll be ready in a few minutes." Rukia said before leaving Ichigo alone. Ichigo sighed. He was frustrated that he snapped like that at Rukia again. Why must every little thing remind him of that incident? It was driving him nuts. He wondered when he was finally going to lose his sanity. He put his hand to his face and sighed.
'Why can't I just let it go?' Ichigo wondered. 'It was so long ago, Ichigo... just let it go already!' he screamed to himself. He was knocked from his thoughts when he felt something brush up against his arm. He looked down and saw Kon nuzzling him and purring loudly. Ichigo hasn't been too close to animals, so this was a first for him. Last time he was this close to an animal was when he was running from a huge German Shepherd that was chasing him after he stole out of it's owner's tomato garden a few years ago. It wasn't the greatest experience and he's never been near another dog again.
Kon meowed loudly and looked up at Ichigo with his wide hazel eyes and irritated expression. Ichigo gulped before raising his hand and slowly lowering it to pet the cat's head. Kona meowed again, pleased that Ichigo was petting him. As Kon stood up and had Ichigo run his hand down his back, Ichigo smiled. He was petting Kon and he wasn't attacking him, but Kon still had claws and sharp teeth, so Ichigo was still weary of the little creature.
"Ichigo! Come on down!" Rukia called. Ichigo looked up from petting Kon's belly. "Dinner's ready! If your hungry come and get it!" she yelled. Ichigo got up from the bed and made his way downstairs, Kon running right past him. That's when he noticed Kon had a docked tail. He's never seen a cat with a docked tail before. He was curious. Had he gotten hurt somehow? He'll have to ask about that later.
Ichigo walked downstairs and into the kitchen. Rukia had made a large pan of fried cucumbers and eggs. It smelled wonderful and his mouth began to water. He saw her scooping something out of a tiny can with Kon brushing against her legs and meowing loudly and pawing at the cabinets.
"Relax, Kon. I'm getting your dinner." Rukia grumbled. She finally put the tiny dish on the ground and the fat cat shoved his face in, beginning to devour his food. Rukia sighed and wiped her hands on a towel as she walked towards the table. "Sit down, Ichigo. You can start eating." Rukia told him. She sat down and Ichigo sat across from her. Rukia scooped her share and let Ichigo get his own. At first Ichigo only took one scoop, but his stomach was telling him to take more and he took one more spoonful of Rukia's cooking.
In a few minutes, Ichigo was done eating. He didn't take more because he didn't want to end up drinking whatever Yoruichi made him drink last time. That was something he didn't want to experience again. Ichigo watched Rukia finish her plate and take a sip of her water. She looked so elegant and lady-like. Just like his-
"Ichigo?" Rukia said. Ichigo shook his head to clear his mind and saw that Rukia had a fearful look on her face. "Um... why are you staring at me like that?" she blushed. Ichigo gulped. Damn, why did he have to space out like that?
"I-I was... uh..." Ichigo stammered, his own cheeks flushing. He looked down and immediately saw Kon licking his paws and wiping them behind his ears. "I was just wondering why... Kon doesn't have a tail..." Ichigo changed he subject. Rukia seemed to have bought it.
"Oh... that..." Rukia frowned. Ichigo cursed himself. She was frowning because of him. Why did he have to stare at her? Why couldn't he have kept his eyes to himself! Stupid, stupid, stupid! "Before Yoruichi moved in with us, a dog attacked Kon." Rukia began to explain. "The dog didn't severely hurt Kon, but he got a pretty good chunk of his tail... Yoruichi was devastated..." Rukia said. Ichigo felt his heart sink. Even the cat felt pain, but shrugged it off like it never happened. If only he could be that strong.
"So, I guess Yoruichi hates dogs now, huh?" Ichigo asked.
"Well... it's not that she hates dogs, just the one that attacked Kon." Rukia answered. "Yoruichi's always been a cat-person. She's never taken to any other animal besides cats." she said. Ichigo nodded. "I don't mind cats. I think they can be very affectionate and intelligent, but I prefer rabbits." Rukia suddenly smiled, clearly excited at the thought of the cute creatures that hopped around. "They're so cute with their little noses and fluffy cottontails. I've always wanted a rabbit. I'd name it Chappy! A little white one with long ears and bright eyes." Rukia giggled. Ichigo worked up a smile seeing Rukia like this. There was that smile again... the smile he's always eager to see. "But Byakuya would never let me have one... he said something about them being too expensive..." Rukia frowned. Damn... her smile was gone...
"I think I heard my name being tossed around..." in came Yoruichi, her hair wrapped up in a towel, the woman clad in her pajamas. Ichigo gave her a nervous look. Gossiping was wrong, he shouldn't have said anything about it...
"Chill out, Yoruichi. I was only telling Ichigo about your love for cats." Rukia was in no mood for Yoruichi's attitude. She had no right to have one, not after what she did to her kitchen. Yoruichi smiled at the short woman and picked up Kon, getting an irritated meow from the fat cat.
"I know, I was only being sarcastic. Thank you for feeding Kon. You didn't need to do that, Rukia. I would've done it." Yoruichi said, petting the orange tabby. Kon eventually settled in her arms when she sat down next to Ichigo and fell asleep in the purple-haired woman's grasp.
"It's not a problem, Yoruichi. He wouldn't leave me alone when I came down here to start cooking." Rukia took a sip of her tea, looking to Ichigo's brown eyes. They were so dazzling. So vibrant and sharp. The deep russet nearly melted Rukia's heart. Just by looking at the irises she could tell they held the story behind this mysterious boy. She was glad he was focused on the cat in Yoruichi's lap, otherwise she might've frightened him. That was another thing. For a boy who was so tall and masculine, he was awfully skittish and quiet, not wanting to be an inconvenience to Rukia in her home. He was so polite and mannerly. She just wondered what this kid went through...
"I should really make you guys something to eat." Yoruichi frowned, letting Kon jump down from her lap as she stood up and walked to the fridge. Rukia had hardly paid attention to what she said. Only when Yoruichi stood up did she realize she was serious.
"Oh no, Yoruichi. You don't have to do that. I already made something for us." Rukia pointed to the bowl of cucumbers and eggs Ichigo was now eyeing.
"Yes, and I am very happy about that, but it's what I can do in return to nearly destroying your kitchen." Yourichi dug around the fridge, grabbing a bag of shrimp. Rukia sighed.
"If you insist..." she looked up to Ichigo and saw his eyes were locked with the bowl of remaining food Rukia had made. She smiled and pushed the bowl forward, getting a startled look from the ginger which caused her to laugh. "Don't worry, Ichigo. It's not alive." she reassured him. "You can have the rest if you're still hungry. I don't mind." she told him. Ichigo's mind hesitated. He eyed the bowl full of the food he loved and wondered if he should take another spoon full.
'I should take some more to be courteous, but I don't want to overeat again... oh... but I'm still so hungry...' Ichigo couldn't help but grimace and took the spoon, filling his plate again. Rukia smiled when she watched him eat. She could tell he didn't want to seem like a pig, eating everything in sight, but she didn't mind. This kid was clearly underweight and needed to gain enough to be physically strong again.
"How does shrimp over rice sound?" Yourichi asked, pulling out a small pot. Rukia turned and smiled at her.
"That sounds wonderful, Yoruichi." she said. Ichigo didn't respond. He was too busy eating.
"All right! Coming right up!"
After a big dinner, Rukia and Ichigo sat on the couch to await for Byakuya's return while Yoruichi washed the dishes. Ichigo had eaten enough to keep him full, but not give him a massive stomach bulge like last time. The amount of food and heat from the fireplace made him drowsy and he laid on the couch, Rukia a feet or two away from him, watching a movie on television. Ichigo didn't pay attention to what the movie was about. He rested his head on his folded arms and closed his eyes. He was ridiculously tired. What did she put in that food? A tranquilizer? Nonetheless, Ichigo fell asleep within in seconds.
Rukia noticed he had become awfully quiet and looked down at him. When she saw him sleeping so soundly, she smiled. He looked so innocent sleeping. Like a small child. Rukia knew that on the inside of this tall, robust-looking male was a lost soul, waiting to be loved. But there were still so many questions to Ichigo. Why was he alone? Why doesn't he have a home or family? Why is he so skittish? Why did he get defensive when Rukia asked him simple questions? How long has he been alone? and... just who was Ichigo? Was Byakuya right to have suspicions? Was she really naive? But she trusted him...
Rukia's questions ceased when she noticed how unique Ichigo's hair was. A vibrant, firey orange that spiked out neatly in all different directions. The fireplace was making it seem like it was glowing an aura of golden orange. It shimmered in the dim light, reflecting off the fire's radiance in a spectacular light battle. Rukia was mesmerized by him. Not only his hair, but his physical features aswell.
His long arms and legs, his long body, his stature in general impressed her. Sure, she's seen Renji shirtless in all his muscled and tattooed glory and even Byakuya when he was willing to swim, but with Ichigo... even though he was full clothed, she knew what lied underneath that fabric was mouth-watering. mouth-watering...? Okay, snap out of it!
Rukia looked away, feeling heated from her daydreaming. 'What the hell, Rukia! Okay, come back to reality. He just got here, stop being a little alley cat! Damn hormones...' Rukia shook her head and kept her stare back on the TV. Her movie was almost over, so she better watch it now to keep her mind from becoming overrun with such unacceptable thoughts, but she couldn't help but get one last glance of the soft expression on Ichigo's face before returning to the program. 'I wonder what is going on in that little head of his..' she thought as Ichigo dreamt whatever was playing out in his sleep.
Heat.
The searing heat and bright aura of the flames as they licked wildly at the home. The smoke was blinding and the flames were getting hotter and hotter, rising in height and spreading fast. Debris was falling and crashing in an explosion of sparks and smoke. The whole entire home was engulfed in this holocaust, inside and out. The beams on the inside were crying out in pain, threatening to fall and end their agony. The contents inside were no longer valuable and the floors were at the verge of collapsing, coated with a thick black pelt. The heat intensified and smoke replaced the precious oxygen that was needed to survive.
Tiny hands scrunched the burnt blouse of a woman with now soot-covered golden hair. Her arms wrapped protectively around the small child whose face was burried in her bosom, shaking with fright as another beam fell, mauled by the flames.
"Ichigo..." she whispered to the bright-haired boy, whose hair was exactly the same shade as the fire that was destroying their home. He looked up with watery, puffy earthy eyes. "Ichigo, you must run." she told him. He was taken aback by her words. Run? He couldn't leave her here! Her and his father, who was lying on the ground beside his mother, two smaller bodies, smaller than him, lying under both of his arms. He shook his head and clung to her tightly.
"No! I won't!" he cried. She hugged him tightly, the large cabinet that held their dishware falling to the ground in an eruption of sparks and smoke. She coughed when the fumes hit her nose and shot up her nostrils. There wasn't much time left. The last beam was about to give way by the punishing blaze. Looking into her son's eyes, Ichigo's mother pleaded with him.
"Run, Ichigo! Don't look back! Just run and don't stop! Just keep running!" she screamed at him. Ichigo gasped and yelped as his mother picked him up and began kicking at the weakened walls. After a tiring effort, the wood shattered apart and a hole was created just large enough for Ichigo. The tiny 8-year-old was then shoved through the hole by his mother, the jagged wood scraping his skin and drawing blood. Ichigo screeched in agony as the sharpest part of the wood cut through his shirt and tore down his torso all the way down near his groin on the opposing side.
Ichigo hit the dusty earth, bloody and covered in soot, but otherwise okay. He looked back to see his mother, tears streaming down her blackened face. Ichigo could only stare in horror as he saw how terrified and desperate his mother looked. A very loud crack was heard followed by the long agonizing groan of the structure of the house.
"Run, Ichigo!" his mother screamed at him. Ichigo flinched before scrambling to his legs and taking a step back. "Run! Just run, Ichigo! Keep running and don't look back! Run!" she screamed louder. Ichigo could see behind her in the small hole something fall that was overlaid with flames. He turned around and began running, holding his bleeding cut on his body. As soon as he got to a safe enough distance he looked back. He saw his mother with a sad smile mouth the words 'I love you' before the floor on the inside of the house gave way to the flames and collapsed, crushing his mother and the rest of his family inside. Ichigo was left wide-eyed and in terror, panic, and confusion, staring at the rest of the home he loved the most crash to the ground in a firey pile of rubble and death. Ichigo took a step back, his eyes trembling and his heart racing. His mind was in a blurr and his sanity was long gone. What just happened... it couldn't be true... it just couldn't...
Falling to his knees, Ichigo tilted his head up and screamed.
"Ichigo..."
"No..."
"Ichigo."
"N-no..!"
"Ichigo! Ichigo!"
"No, I won't leave..."
"Ichigo, wake up!" Rukia yelled and began shaking Ichigo, who was twitching madly and murmuring in his sleep, roughly on his shoulders. At her touch, Ichigo's eyes bolted up and he let out a loud shout, shooting backwards from where he was laying and falling over the couch. He scrambled to his feet in a blind hysteria and backed up, only to hit the table and sending a vase smashing to the ground next to him. Ichigo shouted in fright again and backed up in another direction until he hit a wall hard. In a frenzy of terror, Ichigo looked around frantically for a way out, heaving for air, his eyes wide and pupils constricted to small black dots.
"Ichigo!" Rukia had yelled, running over to him and kneeling in front of his terrified face. Ichigo almost back-handed her out of pure fear. His nightmare kept replaying over and over again, sending his heart beating at an abnormal rate, his eyes wide and sweat running down his forehead. "Ichigo, snap out of it!" Rukia screamed at him. She locked eyes with his and made him focus on her. "Ichigo, calm down, it's just me." she tried to soothe him. Ichigo continued to pant heavily, trying to calm himself, thought it wasn't working. "Ichigo, relax. Take a long, deep breath." Rukia told him. Ichigo looked into Rukia's deep blue eyes. They were like sapphire orbs in the middle of a midnight sky. It was calming and he was able to catch his breath. Rukia sighed, not taking her eyes off the boy. "There ya go... relax and talk to me." Rukia said softly. Ichigo shook his head furiously and kept himself up against the wall. He couldn't talk about his nightmare. He couldn't. He just couldn't!
"No!" he shouted at her. Rukia gasped. He had never yelled at her like that before. "Just get away from me!" he shouted again. That's when she noticed tears were starting to stream down his face.
"Ichigo..." Rukia said softly. Ichigo rubbed his eyes with his arm, sobbing heavily. Rukia's heart went out to Ichigo. Whatever happened to him, it really scared him. To the point where he was actually crying. This was getting serious. "Ichigo, you don't have to talk about it if you don't want to, but at least let me take you to your room." Rukia said, extending her hand to him. After a few minutes, Ichigo stopped crying and looked back to Rukia, but this time, his eyes were blood-shot and puffy. Rukia hated that. She wanted the beautiful chocolate-brown she loves to see. He accepted her hand and he stood up with her pulling him to his feet. He rubbed his face from his tears and snot. How stupid of him. Yelling at her like that and causing a scene. All from a little nightmare. Stupid, stupid, stupid!
Rukia heard frantic footsteps race down the stairs and revealed Yoruichi, startled by the noise she heard upstairs.
"What happened?! I heard something crash!" Yoruichi exclaimed, and then she looked at the vase in pieces on the ground. The one she got for Byakuya's birthday. "What happened down here!" Yoruichi yelled, fuming at the smashed vase she had spent a lot of money on for Byakuya's birthday. Ichigo covered his eyes again and started to shiver. Rukia looked to Yoruichi and put a finger to her lips.
"Don't yell, Yoruichi! I'll explain everything later." Rukia said firmly. Yoruichi sighed and walked towards the kitchen. She best get the dust mop before Byakuya gets home. Rukia gasped Ichigo's hand tightly and she started for the stairs, avoiding the glass on the floor. Ichigo stepped over the mess he created and followed Rukia, his head hanging low.
Upstairs, Ichigo sat on his bed, his pillow clutched in his arms and his face buried in the fabric. He was too scared to go back to sleep. It was almost ten o'clock and he was tired. He was tired and distressed by the nightmare; the same one that's been haunting him for the past ten years...
Rukia sat next to him, watching him closely. Ichigo had gone from calm to in a complete abashed state. He was shaking violently and was clearly shaken from what he had dreamt. If only she knew... if only there was a way to understand this boy; to know what he had suffered that caused him to end up like this. Rukia could only look on helplessly and do nothing but let Ichigo collect himself, or at least try to.
Rukia scooted over next to Ichigo and made her presence known so he wouldn't become more scared. "Ichigo?" she spoke softly. Her voice had caused him to flinch. "Ichigo, I'm here. You can always turn to me if you need something." she told him. He didn't move. He didn't speak. Rukia looked down at the floor, crestfallen. "You don't have to talk about it, but you can always tell me what's on your mind..." she whispered. Ichigo scrunched his pillow tighter. For a while, the two sat in a stilled silence. No one moved or spoke and time seemed to freeze. Rukia even wondered if Ichigo had fallen asleep. With a sigh, she stood up and began to walk for the door. She better go downstairs and help Yoruichi clean up the mess Ichigo made.
"Rukia..." Rukia's hand froze, clasped around the doorknob at the sound of Ichigo's quiet voice. She looked back at Ichigo, who was still face-down in the pillow. She waited and after a few seconds, Ichigo raised his head to reveal his reddened eyes. They were watery like a field after an afternoon's rain. He had been crying again... something she hated seeing. It pulled at Rukia's heart. She had seen him sad, frightened, and even a little angered, but never crying.
"Yes, what is it, Ichigo?" she asked him sweetly. He locked eyes with her, not wanting to break the gaze.
"P-please don't leave me alone..." he pleaded. Rukia released the knob and looked at him. He had this... needy look. This nightmare really scared him. He's never asked Rukia to be near him, in fact, Rukia's noticed that he tends to lash out at her when he's this scared or nervous about something... but right now, he needed her, and she wasn't going to turn him down.
Rukia walked back to the bed and sat down next to Ichigo. He was still and quiet, not moving an inch. Rukia looked at him. Thought dark, she could see his skin a sickly pale. He was almost like a ghost in the night.
"I'm sorry..." he said suddenly. Rukia raised an eyebrow.
"For what?" she asked softly. Ichigo didn't look to her. He kept completely still.
"For everything!" he started to snob. "I'm sorry for yelling at you, and scaring you, and breaking your stuff. I'm so sorry, Rukia..." Ichigo's voice cracked. His heart ached and his head was in a blurr from the nightmare. He started to snivel and clutch the pillow tighter. Rukia scooted over closer and wrapped her arms around Ichigo. He shivered at her touch, but he needed it. He needed her closeness.
"Ichigo, it's okay..." she whispered. "You were scared and disoriented. You didn't mean it and I understand. Please, don't beat yourself up about this, Ichigo. I forgive you." Rukia finished, tightening her grip on Ichigo. Ichigo let go of his pillow and wrapped his arms around Rukia. He buried his face in her shoulder and didn't let her go. He realized he needed Rukia. He needed her presence and warmth. Her care... her everything. If he loses her now to his own fear and stupidity, he'll be alone again, and he won't survive another time.
Rukia stroked the back of Ichigo's head gently. She knew Ichigo needed her. The only thing that was on her mind was what happened to him? What caused this very gentle and innocent boy to be so fainthearted and alone? This didn't make sense... she had to get to the bottom of this, even if it meant breaking Ichigo in herself.
Yoruichi sighed, vexed at the smashed vase she bought for Byakuya a few months ago. She understood that Ichigo was... special, but to smash her vase and cause mayhem and not even apologize for it? That really stung her.
Yoruichi kneeled down and carefully started to pick up the large pieces of glass that were easy to pick up. That's when the door opened and in walked Byakuya. Yoruichi's heart stopped. He walked in and sighed heavily, removing his coat and hanging it on the hook. When he walked in the living room and saw the woman picking up the glass, he was not too pleased.
"Yoruichi..." he bellowed. "What happened here?" he asked with an intent to kill in his eyes. Yoruichi gulped. What was she to tell him? She couldn't tell him that Ichigo did this. He'd go after him and skin him for sure! She couldn't blame Rukia either. She would deny it and a massive argument would ensue. Should she blame herself? Yeah, that would work! But, what was she going to say? Should she say she was just being stupid and knocked over the damn thing? Oh, but she didn't want to get in trouble! "Yoruichi." Byakuya rose his voice. She flinched. She guessed she was hesitating and he noticed. "I asked you a question and I expect you to answer." he demanded. Yourichi opened her mouth to say something, but her throat closed.
"I-I, uh..." she stammered. "I-"
"It was me, Byakuya." Rukia intruded, walking down the stairs with a stoic look on her face. Her brother raised an eyebrow at her, obviously suspicious and not buying the lie at all.
"You, Rukia?" he narrowed his eyes. "I find that hard to believe with you being so nimble and alert. Care to explain just how you broke Yoruichi's vase? Byakuya asked, his tone spiteful. Rukia nodded and kept calm.
"I was up watching a movie and fell asleep. When I woke up, I was drowsy on my way to the stairs and bumped the stand. A simple mistake, Byakuya." Rukia explained with ease. Byakuya still had his suspicious, especially since Yoruichi looked awfully rabbity about this whole situation. But Byakuya was tired and didn't feel like arguing.
"I have no energy to deal with this right now. Clean up the mess, Rukia. I'm going to bed." he said firmly before walking past her up the stairs. Rukia waited for his bedroom door to close before she let out a sigh of relief.
"That was close..." Rukia whispered. She knelt down next to Yoruichi and began helping her pick up the glass. She looked to the taller woman and realized how shaken she was by what just happened. "Youruichi, are you all right?" Rukia asked her worriedly. Yoruichi let out a shuttered sigh and nodded briefly.
"Y-yeah, it's just that... you know I'm bad at lying..." she looked down at the ground, her eyes becoming glossy. Rukia blinked at her. What was the matter? "I can't lie to Byakuya. If you wouldn't have came down when you did, I would've ratted out Ichigo in pure fear." she shivered slightly. Rukia sighed again. She hated making Yoruichi do things for her, but it's not like she asked her to. She didn't have to, but she is very thankful she covered for Ichigo. The last thing Rukia wanted to happen was for Byakuya to interrogate Ichigo and scare the living daylights out of him.
"Thank you, Yoruichi. You did not have to do that and I understand how hard it is to lie to Byakuya. Trust me... I've been living with him for a long, long time." Rukia stood up with her handful of glass and walked to the kitchen to dispose of it. She then grabbed the dustpan and small broom and returned to the living room. She brushed the dust and leftover shards of glass into the pan and returned to the kitchen and dumped the remaining glass. Yoruichi had followed her and tossed the larger shards of glass she had picked up and sat down at the kitchen table, still unnerved by what happened. Rukia sat down next to her and cupped her hands together.
"I'm so sorry about the vase..." Rukia apologized. The flashbacks of Ichigo's terrified state scared her. She's never seen him like that before.
"It's... not your fault..." Yoruichi whispered. She wanted to blame Ichigo, but she knew it was a freak accident. She couldn't blame him. It wasn't right. "I know he didn't mean it. By the way, how is he doing? He seemed pretty shaky." Yourichi asked. Rukia sighed. It took her a while to calm him down this time.
"I got him to fall asleep." she answered. "He fell asleep in my lap... he was so upset... I just hope he sleeps through the night..." Rukia prayed. Yoruichi nodded. She felt bad for the kid, and even though he was to fault for the smashed vase, she knew she was going to have to let that blow over. Being angry at someone because of something so petty wasn't very mature. "He said he was sorry for breaking the vase..." Rukia suddenly spoke. Yoruichi's eyes widened slightly. "He said he'll do anything to replace it... so long as we don't kick him out..." Yoruichi felt her heart jerk. Now she was glad she didn't tell Byakuya. He would've nearly killed the poor kid. There was one thing on her mind, though...
"How did he break it, Rukia?" Yoruichi asked her. Rukia frowned.
"He was sleeping... and I guess he had a nightmare and freaked out when I woke him up. It was so strange... he was mumbling in his sleep and twitching." Rukia explained. Yourichi raised an eyebrow and turned to her friend.
"Mumbling?" she asked. Rukia nodded. "So, he was talking in his sleep? What was he saying?" she asked. Rukia looked up.
"Well, I didn't really catch everything, but I did hear him mumble 'No, I won't go. Don't leave me...'" Rukia's glance downcast to her cupped hands.
"Is that all?" Yoruichi asked. Rukia was silent for a little bit before she said,
"He also said 'I won't leave you, mom'..."
The sight of the flames made his heart skip a beat. Never in his short life did he think that something like this would happen. He cowered in the corner as the flames drew nearer, and nearer, the heat making his skin sting with pain. Breathing was difficult, the black smoke filling the room. The flames seemed to be spreading closer to him, his back up against the wall in the secluded room. His family was nowhere to be found. He couldn't find his mother, father, his sisters, or even his older cousin, who seemed to have vanished into the black smoke.
The heat was intensifying, suffocating him and making him wheeze. The bright luminosity from the fire was blinding. He closed his eyes tight as the fire seemed to cackle in his ear, teasing him about death. The blaze made his skin blister and he put his hands up to his head, accepting his fate and letting out a ear-splitting scream.
Ichigo awoke with a low grunt and his eyes snapped open. His heart was racing a thousand miles a minute. The second nightmare during the night. He was drenched in a cold sweat and he felt stiff, tightened in a ball. He let out a stuttered sigh. How he hated these nightmares. They terrified him, his inner-self not letting go of the past.
He sat up, the blanket falling over his head. He looked to his window and saw the sun high up in the sky. At least he slept through the night... though his mind was still a blurr. He sighed and swung his legs over the bed. The first thing he has to do is to apologize to Yoruichi about her vase.
Ichigo crept downstairs and peered into the kitchen. Just as he suspected, he found the purple-haired woman sitting at the table, sipping what looked to be coffee. He walked in and at the sound of his footsteps, Yoruichi looked to him.
"Oh, good morning, Ichigo." Yoruichi said in a bland tone. He sat down across from her, but didn't say a word. He didn't know how to apologize just yet, but he knew he had to. "Are you hungry? I can make you something to eat." Yoruichi offered, but Ichigo shook his head, still silent and not looking at him. Yoruichi now felt uncomfortable. She didn't look to him and looked down to the floor as well. She wondered if he felt bad about the vase. She wasn't going to hold a grudge or anything, and she didn't want him to feel awkward around her.
"I'm sorry about the vase, Yourichi..." Ichigo whispered. Yoruichi looked up to him. "I-I'll do anything to replace it. Or make it up to you somehow." Ichigo said frantically.
"I-it's okay, Ichigo. It's no big deal. Things like that can be replaced." Yoruichi told him. Ichigo looked up at her. His brown eyes were glazed and turning red. He obviously felt terrible about this whole situation. "Don't worry, Ichigo. I forgive you, and don't think I'm going to resent you for it. It was an honest mistake right?" Yourichi smiled. Ichigo nodded briefly. Even Yoruichi was accepting of him, but it still wasn't right how he was getting off so easy. He knew it wasn't fair. He just had to do something.
"But, I can't just stay here and do nothing. There has to be something I can do to make it up." Ichigo argued. Yoruichi sighed. There wasn't exactly something he could do.
"Hmm... well..." Yoruichi pondered. She could always have him chop wood. Yeah, that'll do. That'll do just fine. Yourichi gave Ichigo a devilish smile and she saw him go a bit pale. "I know just what you can do for me." she said.
"O-okay, what is it?" Ichigo asked sheepishly.
"You are to spend the rest of the day chopping wood for the fireplace." Yourichi told him. Ichigo blinked at her. That was it? That didn't seem too hard... "I'll teach you how to chop it and you will replace the wood you ruined when you first stole from us, which is a lot." Ichigo frowned. He didn't mean to... but, since it'll make Yoruichi happy and make up for what he did a few days ago, why not.
Yoruichi stood up and walked to the counter. "Your lesson starts after you eat something. You'll need all the energy you need for this task." Yoruichi then began to rummage around the fridge. Ichigo then second-guessed if her could do this. Oh well. It's too late to complain now. He'll just have to grin and bear it.
Then entire morning, Ichigo had chopped countless numbers of logs and trees. It was exhausting. despite the cold weather, Ichigo was sweating bullets. He had enough firewood to build a cabin. His hands were bright red as he gripped the ax. He was tired. He needed a break. He panted and dropped the ax, falling to his knees. Yoruichi was relaxing on the porch, watching Ichigo while petting Kon. She decided his "punishment" was over.
"Okay, Ichigo." she called. "You can take a break. Come on in and I'll get you something to eat." she got up and walked into the house. Ichigo panted and sat up straight. Thank God, he was allowed to stop. He didn't think he was ever going to get a break.
Ichigo stood up and walked into the house, rubbing his hands madly to warm them. He should've worn gloves. Well, at least the house is warm. Ichigo walked up the steps and into the home. He sighed at the warmth. It was good to be inside.
"Come on in the kitchen, Ichigo." he heard Yoruichi called. He shoved his hands in his pocket and walked into the kitchen. Yourichi was pouring some tea into some thin mugs. "There's a bowl of warm water in the sink. Warm your hands up." she told him. Ichigo blinked. How did she know his hands were freezing stiff? He shrugged it off and walked to the sink. There was a large steel bowl full of steaming water. He gulped. He hoped it wasn't as hot as his bath a few days ago. He dipped his hands in the water hesitantly and drooped his eyes. It was the perfect temperature. His hands relieved of his ache and stiffness. It felt great.
"I made some brownies earlier. Have some with tea." Yourichi said, sitting down with her tea. Ichigo removed his hands from the water and wiped his hands on a nearby towel. He then sat down across from Yoruichi and accepted the tea and a brownie. They smelled wonderful. They made his mouth water at the sight. He was just about to bite into it when Yoruichi grabbed his wrist.
"Wait." she said sternly. Ichigo dropped the brownie. "You aren't allergic to nuts or anything, are you?" she asked worriedly. Ichigo opened his mouth to say something, but didn't. He actually didn't know the answer to that question. Most of his life he's eaten what's came to him and didn't notice the contents or what it was. He didn't know if he was allergic to anything, but he knew the reaction to nuts was bad.
"I... don't really know..." Ichigo told her truthfully. Yoruichi let go of his wrist. She pushed her brownie towards him and Ichigo gave her a confused look.
"It's the last one without nuts. Rukia prefers plain brownies, so I made her some." Yoruichi explained. Ichigo didn't know how considerate Yoruichi would be. It surprised him. But what bugged him was that it was the last brownie that Rukia liked. He couldn't eat it.
"I can't eat this." Ichigo said bluntly. Yoruichi felt a little insulted.
"Why not?" she asked him. Ichigo frowned.
"Because it's the last one that Rukia likes... I can't eat it..." Ichigo said. Yoruichi smiled. Rukia was right. He was a sweet boy.
"Don't worry about that, Ichigo." she reassured him. Ichigo looked at her curiously. "I made her a small batch to take to work with her this morning. She has plenty to last until tomorrow. Now, eat! I didn't make these for nothing!" Yoruichi ordered him. Ichigo didn't hesitate and picked up the nut-less brownie. As he bit into it, his eyes widened.
'Holy shit! This is awesome!' Within a second, it was gone and Ichigo was amazed at how good it was. It was chocolately and gooey and just absolutely awesome!
"I knew you'd like it. I put tiny marshmallows in the batter." Yoruichi said.
"That was a smart move. That was amazing." Ichigo complimented. He then sipped his tea and squinted slightly. He wasn't used to plain green tea. He wasn't used to tea in general. He never had a taste for it and probably never will.
"Put some honey or sugar in it. It'll taste better." Yoruichi mentioned. She should've known he wasn't used to certain things. This is the first time she's seen Ichigo get "picky". Just as Ichigo was reaching for the sugar, the two both heard the door open.
"Hey, Yoruichi!" it was Renji. Yoruichi raised an eyebrow. What the hell was he doing here so early? It wasn't even 1:00. Renji gets out at 3.
"Uh, we're in here, Renji." Yoruichi called to him. Renji rushed into the kitchen and sighed. He looked like he's been running from something. "Why are you here so early?" Yoruichi asked. Renji didn't answer, but pulled a cigarette from the back of his ear. "Hey, hey, hey! No smoking in the house! You know Byakuya's rules!" Yoruichi scolded him. Renji sighed heavily.
"I know that!" Renji spat, putting the cigarette in his mouth. Ichigo only looked on at what was happening, which was very baffling to him.
"I thought Rukia said something about you quitting." Yoruichi narrowed her eyes at him. Renji grunted.
"Yeah, well, I can't just abruptly stop like that. It takes time and I've gone three days without a single whiff of cigarette smoke. I'm kinda withdrawing. It's just one. I swear." Renji said. He walked over to the window and opened it before lighting his death-stick. He inhaled deeply and sighed heavily as the white poison filtered outside in the air. Thank god for his half hour lunch breaks... otherwise, he would've went nuts. Yoruichi was disappointed. Renji promised Rukia and Allison he'd quit.
"So, let me get this straight... you came all the way here during your lunch break just to smoke?" Yoruichi asked. Renji nodded. "You're an idiot..." she said bluntly. Renji rolled his eyes.
"I am who I am..." Renji retorted, taking another puff of his cigarette. Yoruichi stood up and placed her hands to her hips.
"Honestly, Renji. Don't you think you should at least try just a bit-" Yoruichi was cut off by Renji's cellphone ringing. He looked at it and almost swallowed the cigarette. It was Allison. FUCK!
Fumbling with his phone, Renji put his cigarette behind his ear again and pressed the button on his phone. "Hey, Allison..." he said nervously. Yourichi smiled as she listened to him talk. "Yeah... yeah, I know. I'm sorry, Allison... I was... taking a piss..." Yourichi snorted with laughter. Renji was always lame with excuses. "My door is unlocked, so you can go right in. I don't mind... I'll be home in fifteen minutes. I'll see ya there. Bye." Renji hung up his phone and sighed, going back to his cigarette. "That was close..." Renji wiped a bead of sweat from his forehead. Allison almost squeezed the truth out of him.
"So, I suppose you have to go?" Yoruichi asked. Renji shrugged his shoulders.
"Nah. My door is unlocked and if I know Allison, she'll go right on in, steal my bed and fall asleep and won't even remember me coming home." Renji said with confidence. Yoruichi shook her head.
"Don't count your chickens before they hatch, Renji." Yoruichi warned. Renji only shrugged it off. He wasn't worried. Ichigo sat in silence, drinking his tea, sugarless, which earned a distasteful grimace.
It was around 4:00 when Renji finally left, going through three cigarettes he managed to hide from Allison. Just as he left, Rukia had returned home with Byakuya. They ate dinner and they all retired to their rooms. Ichigo laid in bed, his arms crossed behind his head as he stared up at the ceiling. He wondered long he was allowed to stay here. Just how long they would tolerate him and treat him like a human being. It had been what? Three-four days? He already made a bad rap for himself with the whole vase thing. What else will happen? And if something bad does happen, what will become of himself? Will he be kicked out? Beaten? Chained to a wall and starved? Just what? Ichigo closed his eyes and sighed. He had to push these thoughts away, yet another voice lingered in his mind, telling him things. Speaking to him and driving him mad. He wondered if all these thoughts and feelings will ever blow off.
A month had gone by slow, but the weather had gotten much warmer. The snow was melting and the ground was becoming soggy. Small animals like squirrels and birds were coming back, and even the green grass was sprouting healthily. Spring was on its way, and so was another thing. Allergies. The cold was common thing around these parts, especially with the woodland area. The good news was, Ichigo had lightened up a bit. He's had little-to-no nightmares since that one night so many weeks ago. He was still apprehensive and jumpy, but other than that, he was getting better at socializing, thanks to Allison. Rukia had spent every minute with him as much as she could. The weekends is where Ichigo had her all to himself, so to speak. Now that it had gotten warmer, Rukia took him on walks on a trail that led to the bridge into town. It was about a forty minute walk from going to the bridge and back. During that time, Rukia talked to him, learning what he likes and dislikes and just a little bit of everything, except for what happened to him. That's the one thing she hadn't gotten out of him yet. She waited for the right moment to do that, and that wasn't now.
It was a humid morning from the rain and Rukia and Ichigo had just gotten back from a morning walk. Rukia noticed Renji's car was here and smiled.
"Renji's here! I wonder if Allison's with him. C'mon!" Rukia grabbed Ichigo's hand and pulled him to the door. Rukia entered and closed the door, hearing Renji talking. She walked to the living room with Ichigo behind her and gave Renji a questioning look when she saw Renji with a heavy coat and scarf around his neck. His nose was bright red and he sniffled.
"Renji, how on earth did you manage to catch a cold?" Rukia asked, smiling at him mockingly. Renji rolled his eyes and sniffled again.
"His cigarettes..." Yourichi answered from across the room. Rukia raised an eyebrow. "This one thought it would be a good idea to lie to Allison about his door being unlocked and left her in the freezing cold for almost an hour just to come here and smoke." Yoruichi spat. Renji growled.
"I didn't lie! I must've forgotten to unlock it and she's not exactly the sharpest tool in the drawer if you catch my drift." Renji argued.
"Sure, she locked herself out of her car, but she would've have gotten sick if you had just gone home on time instead of procrastinating and smoking!" Yoruichi retorted. Renji opened his mouth to yell, but ended up sneezing loudly. Ichigo scrunched his face. He didn't think he was ever sick before... at least not within the past year or so. Yoruichi rubbed her temples. These two have been going at if for the past week and Rukia had no idea why. Guess this answers the question...
"Well, I guess Allison giving you her cold was payback. Serves you right." Rukia teased. Ichigo kept quiet. He never engaged in conversations like this. Ever.
"Oh, she did a lot more..." Renji said, his voice congested. "She kicked my ass when I got there. She smelt the smoke on me and locked herself in my room and forced me to show her every spot I had a cigarette in... then she kicked me in my jewels..." Renji shivered. Rukia laughed. "She gave me hell for two days... when she got sick, I felt bad, so I took care of her. Guess she passed it on to me..." Renji grumbled.
"I told you waiting here wasn't going to pay off. Look where it got you. Sick with an angry lady at your house." Yourichi spat. Renji rolled his eyes again. He seemed to be in the center of being scolded by women... this sucks...
"Renji, you're going to lose her, and you're going to be all alone again. Do you really want that?" Rukia said to him. Renji looked down and shook his head.
"No, of course not." he muttered.
"Then listen to her. Women hate when they aren't listened to or heard. Allison's sensitive on the inside. She must've thought you care more about smoking than you do her." Rukia's words pierced his heart.
"But, I don't. I love Allison, but quitting isn't as easy as I expected." Renji said.
"Nothing is ever easy, Renji." Yoruichi jumped in. "You just need to keep pushing on. If you don't do this soon, she's going to leave you and kick my ass." Yoruichi said bitterly. Renji glared at her.
"Whatever. Look, I gotta go pick up some cough medicine. I'll catch you girls later." Renji got up from the couch and made his way to the door. His shoulder brushed Ichigo's ever so slightly as he walked past the two. "Tell Byakuya I'll see him later." he waved good-bye before closing the door. Rukia and Yoruichi sighed heavily.
"He's never gonna learn, is he?" Yoruichi said.
"Nope..." Rukia responded. Ichigo smiled slightly. The humor in this house has increased ten fold because of Allison and Renji. And because if it, Ichigo smiled often.
"Well, I hope you two are hungry because I made the best breakfast scramble ever!" Yoruichi cheered. Rukia's eyes became bright. She was starving!
"All right! Let's go, Ichigo!" Rukia grabbed Ichigo and pulled him into the kitchen.
"That's all you got with a thorough description?" Byakuya fumed as he sat in front of Izuru in his office, who was frustrated beyond belief with his past partner.
"I told you I had over 3000 people in this system! Just be glad it dropped down to 1563!" Izuru snapped. Byakuya growled and rubbed his face with his hand. This investigation was proving harder than he had imagined. Why wasn't this kid coming up right away? Was his background blank? This didn't make sense...
"How many blank backgrounds are on there, Izuru?" Byakuya asked. Izuru sighed and scrolled down the screen.
"Well, a lot... about 412..." he groaned. Byakuya thought for a while. If this kid did have a blank background, it'd be easier and faster to go through the smallest amount of files first, then go back to the rest of the search.
"Give a thorough search on the blank ones. I understand it might take a bit, but it's the only way we'll find out." Byakuya ordered. Izuru's eye twitched. He's got to be kidding... surely he must be joking.
"B-Byakuya, will all due respect, this isn't a cakewalk." Izuru complained. Byakuya glared at him.
"I'd be more than happy to do this myself, Izuru, but unfortunately, I cannot." Byakuya said in a deep voice. Izuru rolled his eyes. He knew that... "I'd be more than happy to pay you double for this task. If not, then triple." Byakuya offered. Izuru gave a low growled and slammed his head on his desk. He was trained to never accept personal cash. It was aggravating and Byakuya was making things difficult. Fighting was useless. He might as well give up now.
With a defeated sight, Izuru looked up to Byakuya, who still had the same emotionless look on his face. "Forget about it..." he groaned. Byakuya smiled.
"Thank you, Izuru. I'll be sure to return the favor one day." Byakuya thanked. Izuru went back to rearranging the files. If he was going to get this done, he best start it now.
Byakuya's smile faded quickly, however. Even though a month has passed and Ichigo has done nothing, Byakuya knew there was no good to this mysterious stranger. And he was going to get to the bottom of it, even if it means breaking Rukia's heart...
The night fell and so did the temperature. It was awfully chilly during the nights and the grass was always coated with a frosty dew. Ichigo had begun feeling the effects. He was sitting on the couch, in front of the fire with a throw blanket over his shoulders. He was shivering madly, feeling cold to the bone. His skin was prickly with goosebumps and his teeth were starting to chatter. Why the hell was he so cold? It was a comfortable eighty degrees in this house, why was he shivering?!
"Ichigo, dinner's ready." he heard Rukia call. Ichigo looked towards the kitchen and smelled Yoruichi's cooking. She made his favorite tonight; smoked salmon with roasted seasoned vegetables, but he suddenly wasn't hungry. Rukia came in to the living room and gave Ichigo a questioning look. "Ichigo, aren't you hungry? Yoruichi has your plate ready." Rukia said. Ichigo shook his head slowly. He didn't feel like eating tonight.
"I-I don't have much of an appetite, Rukia..." Ichigo said sadly. Rukia gave him a worrisome glance.
"Are you sure?" she asked him. Ichigo nodded. Rukia accepted how he felt and returned to the kitchen. Ichigo sighed and tightened the blanket around him. If anything, he was feeling a little bit queasy and clammy. He doesn't know what's wrong with him, but he didn't like it...
Ichigo stood up from the couch and crept his way up to his room. Once there, he buried himself under his covers and tried to sleep. His body was achy and his throat was feeling a bit scratchy. He hoped he wasn't getting sick with whatever Renji had. He hasn't been sick in a very long time and has never visited a doctor. Well... he couldn't remember if he did... he had no recollection. Every injury he's received he's shrugged off and acted like a man about it. He's never asked for help, and never received any.
Ichigo took a deep breath before closing his eyes and falling into a dream world.
"Ichigo's not hungry?" Yoruichi was in disbelief as she bit into her fish. Rukia only picked at her meal, wanting to sit next to Ichigo and eat with him.
"He said he wasn't... I hope he's feeling okay." she worried. Ichigo always ate Yoruichi's cooking. It's what he wakes up for in the morning and looks forward to every single day he's been here. For him to deny it, especially his favorite dish, was paranormal...
"I'm sure he's fine. It's probably a phase." Yoruichi said, taking another bite of her food. Rukia sighed. "Eat your food, Rukia. I didn't make it to have it go to waste." Yoruichi scorned her. She was right. No use pouting over him. It's not like he was getting tired of them... right?
Rukia paused at chewing. That wasn't true. He couldn't be getting tired of them. It's only been a month. What if Byakuya was right? What if he's a freeloader just making this whole thing up, but that nightmare he had and his timidness... that can't be an act. It wasn't believable. Rukia swallowed hard. She hoped this was the real Ichigo. He was sweet and kind and even chopped them more wood. No, he wasn't going to leave, but then again...
"Yoruichi?" Rukia spoked to her. Yoruichi looked to her.
"Yes, darling?" she replied. Rukia stared at her plate. Her thoughts were consuming her mind again.
"Do you think that... Ichigo will leave us one day?" Rukia asked her. Yoruichi hesitated for a moment. Even she didn't know the answer to that question. It was hard to say.
"Well, Rukia, if he does, he does. I'm sure if he does, it'll be for better." she told her. Rukia didn't want that. She wanted Ichigo to stay... "We can't say for sure. Don't worry, Rukia. By the looks of it, he won't be going anywhere for a while." Yoruichi gave her a smile before taking another bite of her food. She was right. Rukia shouldn't worry. Ichigo is his own person and can make his own decisions, but she couldn't help but like him... it's been a while since she's had this much contact with someone, and Ichigo brought out her friendly side. It's been so long since she's had a friend. She needed that, and if he left, then she'd slip right back into depression. Not something she was looking forward to.
Pushing her annoying thoughts aside, Rukia began to finish her now cold fish.
The next morning was chilly and crisp. The dew melted, giving the grass a sparkle to it in the weak sunlight. Rukia was already up, putting her coat over her form. She had to go see if Ichigo was ready. She exited her room before going to Ichigo's room and knocked on his door.
"Ichigo!" Rukia called. There was no response, which Rukia found odd. Just as she was going to knock again, his door flew open and Ichigo appeared before, his eyes seemed... watery... He also seemed a little pale. "You feeling okay, Ichigo?" Rukia asked him. He swallowed hard and nodded. Rukia took that as a yes and started to walk towards the stairs, Ichigo following her at a distance.
Inside, Ichigo felt horrible. His head was pounding, his throat was on fire, his nose felt stuffy, his stomach was in knots, and he felt hot and cold at the same time. Was that even possible? Clearly it was, because he was feeling it big time. He didn't want to say anything to Rukia about it. She shouldn't be concerned about his health. She wasn't his mother, and he didn't need help anyway. He could tough it out. Oh, but his head said otherwise. It pounded endlessly like a gong. This was bad.
"Are you ready for our walk, Ichigo?" Rukia asked brightly. Giving a fake smile, Ichigo nodded slightly. "Okay, then let's go." Rukia walked to the door. Ichigo followed her and tried to keep up, but he didn't want to get her sick as well and kept a reasonable distance.
'I can't get her sick. She'll get mad at me. Then she'll kick me out. Damnit, what am I going to do.' Ichigo tried very hard not to let the groan escape his mouth. He felt horrible, and the cold weather made his teeth chatter hard. He hoped this walk wouldn't take long.
Rukia and Ichigo were finally on their way back to the house and Ichigo was thankful. His condition had worsened. He felt dizzy and tired and just wanted to curl up in his bed and sleep. He felt weak and he was so cold he was starting to shake violently. He was panting as silently as he could so Rukia wouldn't catch on. Why couldn't he catch his breath? Breathing was beginning to prove difficult and he was so hot. Why was he feeling so hot? It didn't make sense! This was absurd. This was crazy. This was-
"Ichigo?" Ichigo's eyes widened at the sound of Rukia's voice. He realized he very far behind Rukia. She must've noticed his absence. Damnit! Rukia walked up to him and looked him in the eyes. Her beautiful midnight eyes. They made him feel intimidated. "Ichigo, what's wrong? You look really pale." Rukia raised her hand and caressed his cheek and Ichigo jerked away from her. Rukia almost forgot he wasn't used to human contact like this. "I'm sorry. Are you feeling all right? You felt a little hot." Rukia asked, concerned. Ichigo didn't want to tell her he was sick, but maybe he could just this once... fib?
"I-I'm j-just a little... cold..." Ichigo lied. By the way he was shivering, Rukia believed it. They were still about ten minutes away from home. It wasn't far.
"Don't worry, Ichigo, we're almost home. Just keep up with me, okay?" Rukia said in a caring tone. Ichigo nodded, his eyes drooping and weak. He looked so tired. Easy for her to say keep up. Usually, it's her telling him to slow down, but it looks like the tables were turned today.
As the two began walking, Ichigo found himself falling behind again. His vision blurred and his breathing became hoarse and stuttered.
'What the hell... is happening to me?' Ichigo was shocked at his state. Everything was doubling and swaying. Even Rukia had split into three. What was going on? His mind was going black and his brain continued to drum against his skull. Ichigo let out a agonizing cough before he fell to his knees and onto the frozen ground, face-first.
"Ichigo!" Rukia heard him thud on the ground. Ichigo's vision was now cloudy. He couldn't make out anything, including Rukia's figure. Ringing replaced Rukia's cries and he soon saw black.
"Ichigo! Ichigo, wake up!" Rukia screamed. This was more than just the chills. This was something severe. In a panic, Rukia pulled out her cellphone and dialed for help.
Oh. My. GOD. THAT was a lot to type. I impress myself! Also, YES "rabbity" IS INDEED a word! Thesaurus it! Anyway, what is wrong with Ichigo?! Is it serious? Will he recover? And will he eventually leave Rukia and her family and friends? What do the nightmares have to do with himself and his past? Will Allison kick Renji's ass some more? (Let's hope so XD) Byakuya's getting closer to Ichigo's file, if there is one. What will he find? If anything? Honestly, I don't know the answers to HALF of these questions XD At least not yet!