Crushes
Disclaimer : I do not own anything from this story. Entertainment purposes only.
A/n: revision of cold spring. Focusing on Byaruki only. I apologize for any error. Natural imperfection is beautiful in itself. Stay cool and attractive [my favorite FJ used to say]
"Crushes" by OPgirl
"Crushes are thousand... But love is only one" - anon
It's cold and lonely...
Rukia thought as she hugged her tiny body for warmth. Gently nestled between the protruding roots of a tree, under the starless winter night.
Although she likes the snow, the coldness of loneliness it inspires within her is an unwelcome feeling.
It has been years since she knew her name, and understood the hardships of being an abandoned child in an orphanage were other people doesn't seem to like her.
She is an outcast...
And it felt very painful somehow... Unfair.
Why do other children have a father and a mother who loves them... But she doesn't have..
Doesn't even know who they were...
And why they have abandoned her as a baby.
Aside from her name... She have nothing but herself in this cruel world.
Life felt meaningless.
.
.
But one fateful afternoon... Something changed inside her. Some one had actually showed her that life is worth defending. That the world isn't so cruel after all.
A boy came to protect her without knowing anything about her.
Only because it is his duty to protect.
At that moment... She had felt immense relief. And although the strangers wearing black had surrounded them. She felt safe when he held her hand.
His name was Byakuya...
Her very first real friend.
"What is that, Rukia?" the young boy asked, pointing at the childish drawings of the little girl he proudly protected.
Rukua smiled for the first time. "They are my friends... Wakami and Chappy"
The boy looked pensive, staring at the seaweed doodle holding a sword. It look like him with his sword.
Not long, the adults sent Rukia back to the orphanage. Byakuya said goodbye to his new friend, hoping to see her again and show her how stronger he could become.
Rukia waved goodbye to her savior, feeling inspired to protect others as well.
.
.
And since that day, little Rukia had become infamous in the orphanange for being a fierce girl. She protected the bullied children and fought the boys who used to tease her before.
Not long, Rukia left the orphanage and travel on her own. And even though she had never seen Byakuya again, she would always remember him.
On her joutney, she met a group of boys stealing water from an old vendor in the Hanging Dog. Seeing that they were too loosy to pull off the heist, she decided to help them.
Soon they became good friends... A family she never had.
The boys adored her, except for Renji who constantly tried to outskill her like other boys in the Rukongai.
But time and time again, he couldn't defeat her at anything. Not long, she became infamous in Hanging Dog for being a harsh tomboy.
Boys learned their lessons not to mess with her.
As years passed by, Rukia blossomed into a beautiful girl with tough demeanor. And even though Renji has a huge crush on her, she had no idea because he was too afraid to admit it.
And yet despite Rukia's tomboyish persona, she became friends with some of the women in Rukongai. Often times, they talked about fairytales and lovestories. A love that conquers all.
Which honestly sounded stupid to Rukia.
Waiting to be saved by a prince charming is not exactly her style. Nor is it even realistic.
But then... Like any other girl... She wanted to be loved.
.
.
One afternoon, she decided to climb the wall separating Hanging Dog to another district. Hoping to make their life better. Knowing that their life will never improve unless they venture to the otherside.
And though it is illegal to climb the wall. She decided to take the risk on her own. Everyone tried to stop her, bit she decided that staying stagnant waiting for nothing won't help anybody. And so Renji helped her climb the wall, begrudgingly.
Rukia landed on the otherside using her power. But it still caused her some injuries. Her landing was so ungraceful, her knees bleed on the ground.
"That's the stupidest thing I had ever seen" the man chastised as he came closer to the injured girl.
Rukia immediately looked up at the owner of the baritone voice, while her brows almost touched in annoyance as her angry retort was about to spill from her tongue.
But when she saw him, she couldn't help but notice how strikingly handsome he is, and so her words got stuck in her throat. And immediately looked away from him, realizing how foolish she might have looked like gaping.
"It's none of your business" Rukia spat, to cover up the sudden shyness she felt overwhelming her. Gingerly she stood up, grimacing in pain when her wounds opened up.
"It's not" The man answered smirking despite himself, feeling challenged. "But what you did was illegal"
Rukia looked at the handsome stranger, and finally noticed that he is in fact a patrolling shinigami. And that she was caught red handed boarder crossing illegally.
In an instant, she tried to break for a run but the Shinigami caught her easily and tied her up with an enchanted rope. And then healed her wounds.
But try as she could, she wasn't able to free herself, while the rude shinigami dragged her along to who knows where.
"If you try to escape once more, I assure you that your crimes would pile up" the shinigami warned as he tighten her bindings.
Rukia ended up walking beside the shinigami, as he held her bindings. Taking her with him.
Not long, she found herself standing in front of a salon without her bindings for some strange reason the shinigami didn't mention.
The zealous people ushered her inside, while she followed them without any idea what to do. Knowing that she won't be able to escape the shinigami even if she tried to hide in the salon.
But when they started to put make up on her, Rukia felt dread settled down inside her stomach.
Is she being sold to a brothel?
Is he one of those corrupt Shinigamis selling women in the black market of Rukongai?
Rukia became overcomed with anxiety and started resisting them, but somehow they were able to hold her steady for hours.
And so when the grueling treatment stopped, Rukia felt grateful. She was then ushered back to the shinigami.
Rukia felt trapped, powerless to escape her doom. But the moment she looked at her captor, she felt her heart beat like crazy. Everything else were seemingly forgotten.
He was looking at her like no one had ever had.
Rukia felt admired for the first time in her life. It's a wierd feeling, but very flattering somehow...
She averted her eyes feeling self-conscious and shy.
Then the shinigami offered his hand to her, making her dumbfounded.
Rukia felt her cheek reddened in shyness, as she accepted his hand for some reason she failed to comprehend. Going along with whatever this shinigami asked her.
Walking side by side in the road silently, as people looked at them, she shivered in both the chill of the night air and self-conscious.
For she was not supposed to be walking side by side with a strange shinigami who somehow wanted to take her to beautiful places and dressed her in expensive clothes.
"When are you going to release me? "Rukia asked to fill in the silence.
"I have already released you, awhile ago" The shinigami answered with his matter of fact tone.
"Oh" Rukia said in realization, because the enchanted rope has really been since removed and that it was her who chose to accompany the strange shinigami. "I- I better change then and leave. Thank you, shinigami"
"Byakuya" he corrected.
"Huh?" she asked in confusion.
"Call me Byakuya" he said, looking at her eyes with warmth and openness.
"B- I am sorry. I better leave now" Rukia said, but before she could turn around, the shinigami stopped her.
Her brows began to scrunch up together. Suspecting that the man was probably thinking that she's some kind of a ho.
But when she looked at his handsome face, she came face to face with a bunch of flowers.
"I could not help but notice that these flowers look as beautiful as your eyes" The shinigami said, his voice softening.
Rukia felt her heart fluttered inside her chest, as though butterflies decided to take shelter in her heart.
"Will you accompany me, for a moment? " he asked her sincerely. "There is a fireworks display later tonight"
She couldn't believe what she's hearing. Does this man actually asking her to company him?
Rukia asked herself in disbelief. For never in her life, has someone asked her like this. She should be wary.
But then, he seemed to be an honorable man.
Should she follow the illogical side of her stupidly beating heart, to stay with this stranger?
The shinigami looked at her, waiting.
Rukia pondered her options. Based on her experience, which was virtually zero, the only positive thing she remembered about any Byakuya in her life, was that boy who saved her.
And although this Byakuya is very arrogant, she found herself unable to say no to him directly. Especially since, it was the first time someone made her feel like a normal girl, and not a crude tomboy who everyone feared.
To be admired as a girl like everyone else.
Although she will never admit it. But Rukia also wished to be liked as a girl. Just like the women in the stories she heard from the ladies in Rokungai.
Was it so impossible to experience such a life?
To be loved as well...
Rukia smiled at herself. She couldn't believe that she actually wished for such a fake life.
But then... It wouldn't hurt to endulge, right?
She took a pause and formulated her escape plan, if this person ever does something stupid.
"Yes. I would like to see the fireworks as well, Byakuya" Rukia said courageously, taking the beautiful flowers he offered to her and smelling them, instinctively.
Byakuya smiled, which brightens his eyes. Hearing her say his name felt like sweet melodies in his ear.
At that moment, he looked incredibly handsome. And Rukia felt her heart beats like crazy.
It's incredible how a simple smile can make her feel like her insides were filled with butterflies, in a very pleasant way.
Rukia felt Byakuya's warm hand, holding her hand firmly and yet very gently...
She felt safe... At peace.
To be continued..
A/n: I really wish my favorite writers would continue their stories.