Chapter Five
Ichigo's girlfriend?
Girlfriend?
Someone who willingly agreed to go on dates with him and decided they like him enough to consider a serious relationship with him.
The Orange had a girlfriend?
I stared with wide eyes at the girl who was hugging him and pouring an adoring gaze on to him. It was a sweet moment with a bitter taste.
She gave him another squeeze when Ichigo tried to back away from the hug. He appeared flustered from all the affection he was receiving, appearing a little shocked at her action. Her smile spread further across her face as she gave him one last tug and let go.
Senna looked at me then to Ichigo and asked "Ichigo, what are the two of you doing out here?"
Ichigo's eyes shifted to me, observing my countenance. I tried to maintain my calm expression for the both of them to see.
There was an awkward vibe as Ichigo looked from me to Senna and back. It seemed he didn't know how to handle the three of us together.
He scratched his head, unsure on answering. He was acting as if he was caught red handed with his hand in the cookie jar. Senna looked at me, eyeing me suspiciously before she examined Ichigo. This situation didn't feel right.
"Just work," Ichigo finally responded, looking at me.
"Oh." She didn't believe a word he just said. Senna turned back to me. I felt the need to say something but the look she was giving me was making me uneasy.
Heat rose to the back of my neck as I tried to keep my nerves from being seen from her heavy gaze. She was attempting to intimidate me. I kept her gaze as I tried to banish the unease I was feeling.
"You're buying from Ichigo and Abarai - san?" Senna asked me, eyes were wide with curiosity.
Keeping my glare at bay from being seen by Ichigo, I shook my head. "No. My brother is."
Kurosaki's eyes narrowed at me. My cold yet polite tone echoed my brother's, seeming to have alerted Ichigo to something.
Senna took a step between him and I, partially covering him from my view. "You're a vampire hunter as well, then?"
Surprise colored Ichigo's ambers', his tall frame frozen momentarily.
I blinked at her as her words halted my thoughts. My body didn't respond to any command my mind was trying to send. She thought I was a vampire hunter?
"I mean, your brother has introduced you to it, hasn't he?" Senna continued ignorant of the stances Ichigo and I had taken. "If he's letting Ichigo hang out with you, then he has to be inducting you into the hunting world."
Nii-sama wants me to be a vampire hunter?
"Let's not talk about this, Senna," Ichigo suggested nervously. His eyes were shifting nervously as he examined the people around us to see if any overheard our conversation. This truly wasn't a conversation to be had in public. His eyes fell on me once more momentarily. "Not here."
Senna looked around at the people who were passing us by before her eyes stopped on my face. "But we're all hunters here."
'We're all hunters here'? This girl was a vampire hunter?
"Not everyone is, Senna." Ichigo firmly stated.
"But Kuchiki-san is one, right?" Senna asked me as she leaned against the car.
Ichigo turned his back to me, trying to cover me from her.
I scoffed inwardly. With the mood I was in right now, leaving his defenses down was not a wise strategy. I could jump them both and neither one could stop me.
I would definitely start with Senna.
A dark smile crossed my face. Part of me just couldn't help feeling bad.
"Senna, don't bring that subject up again." Ichigo whispered. He glanced at me over his shoulder.
I shifted my eyes to store window nearby as I pretended to take in interest in what I was seeing, trying to appear innocent of their conversation. Convinced I wasn't paying attention, he looked back at Senna.
"Rukia doesn't know and Byakuya doesn't want her to."
"Her brother doesn't want her to know?"
I already knew that. On my own account I had figured that out. Their conversation was just a waste of my time. I looked up at the sky once more, resuming from where I had left off days before. The sky was different than last time. Irritated, somehow. It must be mimicking me.
Was it moving again?
No. It irritated me, but I had gotten used to it by now.
Nii-sama, the vampire hunter?
Not completely, but was now a major source of concern.
So was it-
"Kuchiki-san will eventually, right?" Senna perkily asked Ichigo.
With my gaze still on the window, I watched her out of my peripherals.
She seemed perky, a person anyone could get along with. She had a child-like quality to her shining in her golden eyes.
Then why did part of me want to split her face in half?
"That depends on Byakuya." Ichigo replied mildly snarky.
He addressed my brother improperly, again. Looks like Byakuya will be kicking him out sooner than later.
Senna gave a court nod. "Very well, then." She gave Ichigo a thumb up. "I promise I won't bring it up again."
Ichigo's perma - scowl returned when he turned to face me. I kept my eyes serious as I tore my gaze from the window. I pretended to not notice as his eyes moved around my face. Senna gave a wave at a pair of little kids who were running by the three of us.
Awkward silence hung in the air, the tension of it weighing down on my shoulders.
Ichigo's eyes shifted between Senna and I. I felt like he was comparing the two of us side by side in his minds' eye.
My eyes lingered on Senna. Maybe his orange hair was so bright it had damaged his sight and he had trouble noticing things. Ichigo thought I was a White Blueberry? She was brighter than I was. We almost had the same build with the difference of her being a little taller than I.
The other difference was our personal status. She, a vampire hunter. I, a vampire. Despite all the training she might have her human strength was nil compared to mine, with or without weapons. Knowing the enemy's tactics was a survival strategy. Maybe I should begin to show an interest in hunting... Hunting vampire hunters.
Feeling Ichigo's eyes run over me a third time (the look in his eyes was making me uneasy), I decided to avert my full attention to Senna.
"Will you joining us, then?" I asked her cheerfully.
Kurosaki slouched forward at my question, meeting me eye to eye. Clearly, I had bothered him, making my eyes shine in joy. It showed when the corners of his mouth seemed to dip deeper.
A slight whiff of his scent clouded me again, making my mouth water.
Shut up hormones.
Ichigo dipped in closer to me with his eyes narrowed closer together. He truly had beautiful amber eyes. His eyebrows were even the same shade of orange as his hair.
My lips curved into a smile, laughing inwardly.
His eyes popped back to their normal size, taken back by my response. He blinked at me a few times, eyes showing his brain had shut down and he was trying to reactivate it. A faint red covered his cheeks as he looked me right in the eyes.
It was oddly relaxing, his amber eyes coated by his orange eyebrows. A day at the beach, the warmth of the sun hitting hot but gentle.
"Of course, Kuchiki-san!" Senna exclaimed clapping her hands together as her voice increased an octave, louder and perkier than before.
His brain seemed to react to her voice and Ichigo went back to his full height. I looked back at Senna, angry at her for ruining my sunny beach day.
Ichigo scoffed like nothing had happened. "Alright then," he spoke seriously, "let's g-"
A sharp ringing cut him off.
"That's me." Senna reached into her pocket and pulled out a small red cellphone. She gazed across the screen momentarily. She slid the keypad out and began typing before she closed it again.
There was a slight pause as she looked at me, waiting for me to look her right in the eyes. I skimmed over her figure before I did. I was right. She was only four inches taller than I was. Her eyes changed slightly, upper tone still cheerful as the under tone became menacing. She gave me a small glare.
"Where will we go first?" Her voice matched the fight in her eyes.
I gave her a light nod. "Wherever you see fit." But I know the perfect place for you to go to.
She turned to face Ichigo and gripped his arm, leaning upward and giving him a kiss on the cheek.
To any ordinary person, it could be perceived as a normal interaction. But the second she looked at me when she began to pull away, I knew she was declaring Ichigo as her property. "It's your decision, Ichigo."
He closed his eyes, Senna's actions never fazing him.
"Fine, let's go already." Ichigo confirmed indifferently as he started walking, oblivious to the exchange Senna and I were having.
Giving me another 'smile', Senna turned and skipped away next to Ichigo.
That Senna girl was going to be a big problem.
I kept my eyes on her as she began to talk to him. So this was Ichigo's girlfriend.
Should I be worried it bothered me - that discovering a key detail in the life of someone I didn't even really know was disturbing me profusely? There was no reason behind my thoughts. Ichigo was just some person doing business with my brother. In a short amount of time, Kurosaki and Renji would be gone and I would never have to deal with either of them.
Renji and Ichigo would be gone.
I sighed. What an odd feeling. I felt torn in two. Some part of me was glad he was leaving. The other…
Empty.
My hand touched my cheek with light plop.
It was completely useless for me to have those types of feelings. Everyone around me would fade away to ash, nothing but a distant memory. I would remain the same age. The same age I was when I met -
"Are you listening?"
Lost in my thoughts, Ichigo's voice barely registered when I looked up to face him.
His orange head was tilted to the side as his eyes narrowed, showing his irritancy.
"Did you say something?" I asked covering my sincerity with mockery.
His scowl deepened and I smiled inwardly.
Ichigo's hand ran through his orange mane, making the tips spike up more.
"So where are we going?" I asked, pretending to care.
"Karakura Cafe," Senna responded at the same time as Ichigo.
Senna gasped and smiled. "Jinx!" she cooed at Ichigo, pulling him in closer.
I coughed slightly, trying not to gag. What the two of them decided to do as a couple was none of my concern - just as long as I didn't witness it.
Ichigo stepped out of Senna's grasp, embarrassment on his face. Senna frowned, her disappointment aimed at him.
He pulled on the door closest to him and motioned us inside. "Hurry up already. The sooner we're in, the sooner we get to leave."
Passing by him, I mumbled, "Finally you start making sense. I didn't think you had it in you."
"Quiet you!" he protested as Senna stepped inside before he did the same.
I walked to the table closest to the front and sat in one of the four chairs. Senna blocked my view of the street as she sat across from me, resting her arms across the table. I raised an eyebrow at her as she leaned forward on her arms, keeping her glare solely on me. I narrowed my eyes at her as I sat up straight in my chair.
Simultaneously, we turned to Ichigo.
He was looking over at the service counter when he felt our eyes on him and turned to us. Nervousness crossed his face, as he looked at the two of us.
"I'll go order," he told us, leaving quickly.
I made sure he was standing in the long line before I averted my eyes to my other companion.
She gave me a smile, her hospitality feigning. "What have you seen so far?"
"Nothing we were barely starting when you came," I scoffed.
"Oh." Senna gave a little nod, grinding her jaw.
We sat in silence, tension thick in the air.
Senna was the first to snap.
Both of her palms hit the edge of the table, her happy temperament falling.
Arching my eyebrow, a smug smirk colored my features.
"You," Senna growled.
"Yes?" I asked in passive tone.
"Don't play coy," she said sternly. "I know exactly what you're doing."
"I was not doing anything." I retorted coolly. "I am merely here, accompanying Ichigo on a tour of Karakura town he decided to take me on."
"Cut the crap," Senna slammed her palms on to the table, the sound muted to others by the buzz around us. "Stay. Far away. From Ichigo."
Chuckling, I gave another look back at the line. Ichigo had moved up to the front now, taking a step forward to the counter as the person before him left with their order in hand.
"You're his girlfriend," I spat the word bitterly. What Ichigo saw in her was beyond me. "Not his keeper."
Shaking her head profusely, she spoke in a livid tone, "Just back off."
I thought she had finally shut up when there was a pause, but after taking in a deep breath, Senna continued.
"Stay away -"
She was really going to tell me what to do.
"- and leave Ichigo and I alone - "
Like I -
"- you -"
- was a -
"- home wrecker."
Silence fell as the word echoed in the air before us.
Anger boiled in my veins and I finally snapped.
"But I'm not even after him." I could feel my dominant side ready to kick her butt, to make her pay for accusing me of something I would never commit. No one tarnished the Kuchiki name with false accusations. Those who did would pay.
And they would pay with blood.
"You must have trust issues with Ichigo if you think he would leave you in a snap." I snapped my fingers for emphasis. "You must have horrible self-esteem if you are feeling threatened by me when I haven't even done anything to make you think otherwise. If you really wanted to keep him by your side you should know that no guy likes it when their girlfriend acts in that form of manner. So insecure of yourself you feel anyone could take him from you, you are the epitome of sad and pathetic."
Fire lit Senna's eyes, her posture becoming stone. Incomprehensible sounds came out of her mouth as she tried to speak, trying to wrap her head around my words.
Score one for Kuchiki.
Her chair toppled over loudly as it fell while she half-crawled across the table, ready to attack me. "Shut up, you b-"
"Senna, what do you think you're doing!"
A shadow loomed over the both of us as we looked up to see who it was.
Ichigo had one plate in his left and another in his right hand with one balancing on his right forearm, the three piled with sweets. Wide were his eyes as he examined our current stances.
Senna - practically on the table, a ferocious lion ready to attack with her hand out to hit me.
I – sitting calmly, a blissful bunny wandering about 'defenseless'.
Her golden eyes widened as she quickly got off the table and stood with straight posture. Her pulse sped up nervously, her eyes shifting as she tried to think of an excuse why she had taken those actions. Senna looked at me, her eyes almost pleading for my help. I, for one, wasn't going to aid her.
I was going to do exactly what she asked of me and leave her and Ichigo alone in their relationship.
For now.
I had to have some form of entertainment and if Senna's anger was any indication, I might actually stick around Karakura longer.
"Err. Uh," Senna stuttered. "You see…"
Ichigo set one plate down in front of Senna and the other in front of me before he walked to my right and sat, continuing to glare at the two of us.
"I was just swatting away a fly," Senna lamely concluded. "That's all. Right, Kuchiki-san?" she asked sweetly.
Ichigo looked over at me and I shrugged indifferently. No wonder Senna was so insecure; she lied right to Ichigo's face.
And poor little Ichigo didn't even seem to notice.
"Rukia?" Ichigo asked, wanting to confirm Senna's lie.
A brief glance at Senna showed me her enraged eyes, fuming because Ichigo had called me by my first name.
I didn't want to get involved in one of their relationship disputes, I really didn't. It wasn't my place to comment. But if I didn't tell Ichigo the truth, I would be breaking my own morale. The one thing I hated more than vampire hunters were people lying in relationships. If I called out Senna on her lie, I would have involved myself in the relationship, possibly ending it. If I agreed, I would be contributing to the lie and have gone against my own morals.
"Well-"
"Don't you believe me, Ichi-kun?" she asked sweetly, interrupting me.
Ichigo's eyes remained focused on her, contemplating the question.
"Of-"
"Here's the strawberry cheesecake slice you ordered, Ichi-nii."
Ichi-nii?
A young girl stood before us in a frilly blue uniform with a plate in her hands. She had light auburn hair and grayish eyes. She had a bright smile on her face, beaming at her brother.
"Oh. Thanks, Yuzu." Ichigo replied, taking the plate from his sister.
"Hi, Yuzu," Senna cooed, patting the girl on the head.
Yuzu gave her a frown, seeming out of place on her cheerful face. "Hello, Kieta-san."
Senna frowned. "Yuzu-chan, we've known each other long enough by now for you to call me by my given name."
Yuzu sighed. It seemed like they had already had this discussion several times, with Yuzu unwilling to concede.
Her eyes lit up again when she looked over and spotted me. She gave me a bow. "Hello. I'm Kurosaki Yuzu, Ichigo's little sister."
I inclined my head. "Kuchiki Rukia. It's a pleasure to meet you."
Yuzu gave me a bright smile. "So you're the girl Ichi-nii is showing around."
I nodded my head. She had no idea how grateful I was for saving me from answering Ichigo's question. "Yes, I am."
Yuzu sat next to Senna. She placed her elbows on the table and rested her head in the palms of her hands. There was a dreamy quality in her eyes.
Ichigo watched his sister, looking a little surprised. "Um, Yuzu-"
"So, what did you think of the sweets?" she asked.
I looked down at my tray, still filled with some pastries. I reached for one of the forks and cut off a piece of one, a chunk of apple covering the fork. I gave a deep breath and took the bite.
I could taste some of the chemicals from the batter float around my taste buds, the natural sugar of the apple coated by the added artificial sugar. The bread flakes were a little rough in contrast to the smooth apple piece.
"It's really delicious!" I exclaimed.
"You really think so?" Happiness shone through her eyes, reflecting the cheer of a child. When I nodded, she continued, "How great! I try to make them at home all the time, but Ichi-nii, Karin-chan, and Tou-san aren't much help. They don't really like to comment on my food."
"That's because we're too busy trying to eat it," Ichigo commented, taking a bite of his pastry.
"I didn't know you knew how to cook or make pastries." Senna took a bite of one, blinking innocently.
Yuzu looked at Senna with a pout on her lips. "You eat my cooking every time you come to our house; you should have already known the taste of my pastries by now."
Senna gave a slight nod, embarrassed.
It seemed like Senna had no interest in Yuzu, and Yuzu didn't like her in return - showing it subtly.
"Ichi, let's go get one of those chocolates!" Senna exclaimed, pulling Ichigo out of his chair.
"Now?" Ichigo asked, holding on to the table as he resisted Senna's pull.
"Yes, now!"
She succeeded in yanking him right out of his seat and pulling him back to the line of long people as the cafe became more crowded.
Yuzu sighed.
"Is anything troubling you, Kurosaki-san?" I asked as I cut into my pastry again.
She gave me a smile as I bought the piece to my mouth.
"What Ichi-nii needs is someone like you."
I froze with my mouth opened in mid bite, the piece on my fork falling onto my plate.
"E- Excuse me?" I asked, shocked with Yuzu's words.
"Senna doesn't take an interest in our family, let alone him." Yuzu reached over and took a cookie off of Ichigo's plate. "He's like a boyfriend trophy."
I shifted my eyes to the line, Ichigo seemingly irritated from Senna talking. He looked like he would rather have a root canal.
"But you seem nice." She looked at me with wide eyes. "Hopefully, he'll come to his sen-"
"I FORGOT!"
Yuzu and I turned to the sound, recognizing it to be Senna.
"I promised my parents I would be home in ten minutes!" She reached up and gave Ichigo a kiss on the cheek. "I'll see you later?" she asked, walking away.
"Later," he waved through the glass as he sat back down next to me, resting his arm on the top of my chair.
Senna threw me a glare from outside, the desire to murder me in her eyes.
Ignoring it, I looked back to Yuzu. As far as sisters went, she seemed to be the sweetest one around.
Yuzu sighed, relieved Senna had left.
"Is Ms. Orikasa giving you too much work?" Ichigo asked, interpreting her sigh as one of stress.
"Course not, Ichi-nii." Yuzu took another one of his cookies. "Just because I'm in middle school it doesn't mean I can't work here too, you know."
Ichigo scowled, taking a bit of his pastry. "You shouldn't have to work."
Yuzu pressed her lips together. "It's not like I'm spending every waking moment at work like you are. You should come home every once in a while. Tou-san kept us up all night last night. He screamed that he'll disown you unless you come back with his grandchildren."
Ichigo pounded his chest, trying to dislodge the cookie now caught in his throat.
"So, Ruki-nee," Yuzu turned to me, leaving Ichigo to his own demise. "Has Ichi-nii been a good tour guide?"
I looked over at him, smiling as he gasped for breath. "He's alright."
Yuzu smiled. "Good, otherwise Tou-chan would be disappointed in him."
"Break's over, Kurosaki!"
Yuzu looked over my shoulder and looked back to Ichigo and myself. "Well, I got to get back to work." She got up and gave Ichigo a hug. "Please, come at least once. Tou-san will keep us up all night again if you don't."
Letting go, she reached over and gave me a hug. "It was nice to meet you, Ruki-nee."
I squeezed her shoulder, wrapping my other arm around her. "You too, Kurosaki-san."
"Call me Yuzu," she whispered, letting me go.
"Hai, Yuzu-chan." I smiled softly.
She shot me a smile and walked back to the counter.
"Your little sister's cute." I told Ichigo with the smile still on my face.
His face became a little flushed, taken back.
"You don't want her to work?" I asked, diverting back to my tray.
"She's too young." Ichigo mused. "Yuzu has two adults to take care of her; she doesn't need to work."
"I hope you're not referring to yourself," I commented as I finished off my last sweet. "Then it would make sense for her to work."
He kicked his chair back and rose. "Are you ready to leave yet?"
I got up and looked at him as I walked to the door. "Ready whenever you are, Orange."
"Shut it, Shorty." he retorted as he reached past me and opened the door.
I stepped out first as Ichigo let the door shut behind him.
I looked out at the street. "So where are we going next?"
"A small shop in the center of Karakura." he replied.
Kurosaki walked in front of me as we headed to the car.
I kept my eyes on the street as I followed, wanting to take in as much as possible when a set of green eyes and black hair caught my attention.
Green eyes met my violet ones and smiled, remembering my own.
The last time I had seen him, was after the accident. I had spent a year after the accident looking for him with no results. After two long years, I had finally found him.
He was here. He was here in Karakura.
And there he was, watching me on the other side of the street.
"K- Kaien-dono!"
LC333: I'm back again!
Hope everyone had a nice 2013!
Much love: amichalap, OptimisticQueenRandom, ichigo urahara Shihoin, demonweasel1, and Yahtzey (you know why).
Next chapter (the sixth chapter), Kaien-dono!