Author's notes:
G. I PEAR, I wish we could speak via pm so I could've answer you before! You have no idea how your reviews made me happy! And yes, I'll check the grammar of the other chapters, and upload proofread ones, I just wanted to make sure I was updating the story instead of just uploading older chapters!
The way Sakura/Tsubasa got in the graveyard was during the time Ichigo was fighting with Grand Fisher. That fight is a bit long, and I wanted to put things in her perspective of not quite being able to reach Ichigo at the moment so that might give the impression of a plot hole. But I can correct that in the future, don't worry! Thank you so much for your support!
Here's another chapter, folks! 'till next time!
10. the end of June rain
They stayed in that embrace for a while. Ichigo was actually enjoying more than he expected he would. He never thought Tsubasa was this bold, enough to come running and hug him like that, under the rain, without minding with what he would think about it.
He welcomed that simple gesture of hers.
In fact, if he could, Ichigo would've hugged her long before.
After all, this was the girl who was friends with him since middle school, when she was still a ghost.
Ichigo wondered if she was ever going to remember him, but right there, in that place, in that embrace, it didn't matter. What mattered it was she bothered enough to come running for him in such a weather and find him, reach him.
Her words still ringed on his mind. They saved him, after all.
When it started to get awkward, Tsubasa was the first to voice her thoughts.
"A-Ah! This is-"
"Hm?"
"I-I'm deeply sorry for doing that!" - she broke the embrace and took a few steps of distance from him. Ichigo smiled, without noticing his cheeks were a bit red like hers.
"No, it's okay. I'm just… how did you get here, Tsubasa?"
"Oh! I… it's a long story." - she lowered her head.
"I don't mind hearing. I think we have time. My dad is going ahead with my sisters to home, so…" - he looked away and scratched the back of his neck.
The rain stopped.
They looked at each other with surprise, and then at the sky, who was still dark but not too much.
"You're soaked to the bones, why didn't you brought a unbrella?" - the substitute shinigami asked. She pouted in response.
"I didn't thought it would really rain, you know!"
He looked at himself and realized – finally – that he had a bit of dirt and mud in his clothes that Tsubasa's dress has too. Ichigo wanted to laugh because he didn't mind. He was just so happy, in such a strange occasion…
"Before you tell me your story."
"Yes?"
Ichigo approached and took Tsubasa's left hand gently and they turned to Masaki's grave.
"Mother. This is a dear friend of mine, her name is Tsubasa."
"Ichigo-kun…" - she blushed.
"We've met long before, but for some reason she didn't remember me. But to be honest… I don't mind. Because she is a dear friend. And I wanted you to meet her, Mother. She's a great person, I think you would like her, for sure."
Surprised with his choice of words, Tsubasa was both happy and nervous inside, it sounded like she was being introduced to a mother-in-law. And Ichigo's mother was a very important person to him. It made it all more special to her.
Except that she was covered in rain and a bit of mud, hair messed up.
When Ichigo stopped, Tsubasa took the courage and started talking.
"Hello, Ichigo-kun's mom. Kurosaki… Masaki-san." - she read the kanji in the stone - "I'm Tsubasa. Kinomoto Tsubasa. A good friend of your son. I'm sorry we're presented this way, I wish I was in better condition, since I'm soaked wet with rain, and some… dirt in my dress. I came running this far from home to see if your son was well. Today is not a good day for him, so I came to check him out, to see if he was okay." - her words warmed up the orange-haired boy's heart. They were so simple and true to the heart that Ichigo realized it was a great thing that she really came for his sake.
She took breath and once again started talking.
"See, Masaki-san, your son Ichigo-kun is very dear to me. And I know he loves you very much, and wishes you're still with us. Me too… I wished to meet Masaki-san in person, but maybe someday we do! And I'm happy… to see Masaki-san today, it is an honour." - she bowed down.
Ichigo looked at Tsubasa, her gesture, her words… he never thought he would feel something good inside him in a June 16th. Not the way he was feeling now.
Without him noticing, Rukia was still there, and from the trees she watched everything. She came to give a look at Ichigo, see if he was in good conditions, but it seems he was in more than better care right now.
She didn't realized that she wanted to be the one in Tsubasa's place.
"So..." - he asked, the two taking their leave from the graveyard - "… what was your story about, 'nway?"
"Ah! I thought you would forget!" - she complained, frustrated - "It's a bit embarrassing."
"Not more than showing up with mud in your clothes, I bet!" - he teased, not looking at her but imagining how her reaction would be.
"Uhhh! Ichigo-kun, you're so ungrateful! I came running today all this way just to check out on you and this is how you thank me!" - the huffed and he had to hold a laughter.
"So this is it? The whole story?"
"What… Oh! I shouldn't-" - she blushed even more than before.
"Then, let me see if I got it all. You came out of your house, running, just to check on me?"
"… Yes." - she admitted with defeat in her voice, and unexpectedly, his right hand found her head, and ruffled her hair fondly.
"Thanks. I'm sorry I worried you." - after hearing those words, the girl wanted to cry, with a mixture of relief and anguish for all she had seen and him been through.
"It's okay now..." - she looked up at him, tears coming up from her green eyes - "… Ichigo-kun is alive and well. I'm happy..."
He smiled gently at her and then…
… a sneeze.
She sneezed.
Way to ruin the mood – he thought.
"Sorry!" - and Ichigo patted her head.
"You're gonna catch a cold if you don't hurry up and get home." - then he realized she was walking slower than before, and moved his hand to her forehead. She was almost burning. - "Oi, you're already with fever, how much rain you caught to be like this?"
"Mmm, sorry… I'm worrying Ichigo-kun for nothing. I just need to get home like you said and-"
Another sneeze.
"I-I'll be alright! Don't worry about it!" - she insisted, but Ichigo would have none of that nonsense anymore.
The substitute shinigami kneeled down, offering his back for her to a piggyback ride.
"Hurry up and get up in my back, we can get faster at your home like this, Tomoeda is a bit far, you know?"
"But… aren't you tired from today?" - she got up, and he started walking again carrying her on his back. She was just as close to him like before when they hugged.
"I'm alright. I'm in a better shape than you are, it seems."
"Nooo, Ichigo-kun is full of scraches… you fought a hollow didn't you?" - she insisted, and he shrugged.
"What are a few scratches that will heal soon? Besides, you are the one with a fever here."
"Thank you… Ichigo-kun."
"Uh? What for?"
"For being alive. I'm happy." - she rested her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes, already feeling dizzy from the fever.
It was not too long before she was already asleep on his back. Then Ichigo could finally answer.
"I'm the one grateful for you being there, sleepyhead."