Who am I? I pondered. One would have thought that the lost of your memory would be freeing. Like a fresh start. No worries about past mistakes or regrets. But I did not find any freedom. I felt caged and bond by the unknown. Luckily, I was able to function as a 'normal' being with common knowledge of today's technology. I shivered slightly as a cold wind swept by. Closing my eyes, I tuned out the noise of the people and concentrated on the soft pitter patter of the rain as it collided onto different surfaces.
The warm soft rain drops felt comforting as I sat there on the bench by some unknown park. I searched within my mind. Nothing… Frustrated, I opened my eyes to look at the scene before me. People passed by, some glanced at me while most went by without a glance at me. Colorless. No meaning. Why was I left out to die? What was I doing in a desert? Who am I? Unanswered questions keep floating through my mind. In the back of my mind, a dark heavy presence appeared that sent chills down my spine stirring me from introspection; I looked out into the crowds passing by. I noticed a few more lingering stares than usual, but nothing out of the ordinance.
Among the sea of dark umbrellas and muted colors, my eye caught sight of an outrageous orange color. At that moment the presence I sensed disappeared. My heart softly sang his name. Ichigo Kurosaki - the young man who saved me from my desert tomb. I blinked. And he was before me with his usual scowl. "Midget, what are you doing out here? Did you also lose your common sense? I thought I told you to stay in bed," he scowled at me as he held his umbrella over me. He tossed his jacket on top of my head. "Wear this…You must have lost your common sense," he muttered under his breath.
I glared at him. But he looked away, and I could see a shade of pink slowly rising from the collar of his shirt. As I took the jacket off my head, I realized why he was tossing the jacket at me when I caught glance of my soaked clothing. The light blue dress I was wearing was of a light material and the rain had made it transparent. Blushing furiously, I quickly put on his jacket. That explains those leering looks I got. And that dark presence…maybe that was part of it. "Thank you," I mumbled and as I snuggled into the jacket to hid my blushing red face.
Ichigo glanced at me briefly to make sure I was properly covered. He gave me a nod of his approval. I rolled my eyes at him. "How did you manage to get out here with these measly crutches?" he asked noticing the soaked worn crutches next to me.
"I managed," I said tartly, "I would have fared better, if I didn't have to look high and low for these."
"I didn't give you crutches because you were supposed to be in bed," he explained, "I know you…" he trailed off. He shivered slightly as a cold wind swept by. "Let's go home."
When I made no attempt to move, he sighed and sat down next to me on the bench. He quietly held the umbrella over both of us. His presence created more questions into my thoughts. It has been a few days since my rescue from the desert. The night of my breakdown, to my embarrassment I had fallen asleep in his arms. I awoke the next day in his home in Karakura mostly recovered. I didn't give much thought to how we got there so fast; I had other pressing issues to think about.
His house was also a clinic that his father ran-which explained Ichigo's medical knowledge. In the mean time it was just him and I, since his father along with his two sisters were gone on a medical conference. His friends did come by to visit. From what they told me I was in high school with them, and we were on our summer vacation. I accepted it, despite the fact that I had an inkling feeling that I was older even though I did look that age.
I recalled the faces of his friends one by one. Orihime was the beautiful busty girl with the light brownish orange hair with an obvious crush on Ichigo. Tatsuki dark short hair was Ichigo's childhood friend, very sporty, and Orihime's best friend… Sado was the quiet and gentle giant who doesn't say much. Uryu Ishida the guy with glasses and always looks serious…what an unusual group of friends he had.
And none of them would tell me much about my past besides that I transferred to their school, and I was boarding at Ichigo's house. They say my name is Rukia Kuchiki; a high school girl with black hair, amethyst eyes, and the shortest out of the group. Whenever I asked about my family they would reply that I was very reserved person and did not talk much about them. I sensed there was more to tell, but they did not give any more detail than that. Ichigo explained that he didn't want to overload me with information and we will take it slow.
It was weird though…at random times they would leave with an exception of one who would stay with me. I felt my eyelids grow heavier and my mind began to drift to the thoughts about the young man next to me who was also lost in his own thoughts. Noticing the goose bumps on his arms, I quietly closed the distance between us. I felt bad that he had to give me his jacket because of my stupidity. It was the least I could do…if we were to continue to sit here. The sound of the raindrops hitting the umbrella, the warmth from his jacket, and oddly enough his presence quieted my thought.
As I sat there on the bench, my mind drifted. Soft kisses…This rain reminds me of soft kisses. I quickly clung on to that glimmer of a memory. Ecstatic, I tugged onto the memory.
-–It was a warm summer rain in the evening. Excitement, anticipation, and fear of what may come rang through my body and mind. My eyes were closed as I relished the feel of the tender soft kisses. I have been waiting forever for. It was better than I could have imagined. My soul was soaring high up in the clouds. Butterflies fluttered in my stomach. I never want this day to end. "Rukia…" he whispered lovingly. I smiled at him as I opened my eyes to look at him. -
No! I exclaimed as the memory faded away before I could see the young man's face. I frantically tried to push it the wall in my memory but it did not give. A sharp knifelike pain sliced through my brain.
"Rukia…" My heart skipped a beat at the voice. The voice sounded like the one from my memory…I opened my eyes to see Ichigo's brown eyes filled with worry as he examined me. "This is what happens when you don't listen to me midget. I told you weren't feeling well enough to be wandering outside of your bed."
I scrunched my nose, it couldn't be him. Not one of his friends mentioned it. I wouldn't fall for such an obnoxious brat…his brown eyes searched my face for any sign of discomfort. He was too close for comfort. My eyes were immediately drawn to his lips. Was it him? The memory of soft tender kisses flashed before my mind causing my heart skip a beat and my stomach flutter. Could I have?