Chapter Nine: Home
Karin and Toushiro quickly stepped away from each other as soon as they heard Ichigo's voice for the second time. Everyone sweat dropped, that is, every one but Ichigo and the unconscious Rukia.
Toushiro mentally slapped himself. What exactly was I thinking? Why did I even participate in that embrace? It could never work out, soul society would have my head, plus I'm too old for her, But her touch…it was just so... Toushiro had never felt so enticed by anyone. She made him lose his cool and that was something only a few women could do, one being Momo.
"Nothing," both Toushiro and Karin replied at the same time.
To say the least Ichigo looked a little more than mad. "Yep and I'm not bleeding internally," he said sarcastically, "You were holding my sister and getting all cozy. Don't think I'm stupid Toushiro." He looked down at Rukia, sighed and spoke to her, "Why dose this shit always happen when I'm gone." She heeded no reply.
"It's Captain Hitsugaya," mumbled the short, white haired boy. He sighed not saying anything else, Karin shutting up as well.
"Come on you got to admit their a cute couple Ichigo," Matsumoto piped up as she walked over to Orihime and giving her a bear hug, "I'm so happy your back Orihime."
Orihime responded by hugging the busty lieutenant back and laughing nervously, "Oh… you too, Rangiku." The embrace had caused her to let go of Uryu who fell to the ground do to lack of support, "Oh! Uryu!" Orihime screamed as she let go of Matsumoto and picked up the Quincy.
Uryu just sighed "It's quite alright Orihime," he said pushing up his glasses and steadying himself on Orihime shoulder once again.
Ichigo waited with Rukia in his arms for the scene to finish. "Yeah and next you'll tell me she's a Shinigami," He snarled responding to her earlier statement. The two main subjects of the discussion were shades of red at the moment.
Everyone but the newly arrived group stood silent and sweat dropped for the second time that night.
"The hell?" Ichigo yelled, "That damn hat and clogs wearing bastard…" Ichigo just had to know it was him. Who else would it be? He was distracted by Rukia's angelic face and remembered that she needed to finish being healed. He grunted and looked at Toushiro, "I'll talk to you later… right now Rukia needs medical attention." Ichigo quickly shunpoed off to Urahara's shop without another word, the others following as fast as they could.
Ichigo knelt on his knees holding Rukia's hand as she slept… She had died. It was almost unbearable to think about, but if Orihime didn't have her powers she would have remained so.
He had debriefed the entire group on what had happened, as Orihime worked on the lose ends of Rukia's injuries. He also had a small talk with that white haired midget they all called a Captain. What was the bastard doing, all over Karin like that? To Ichigo's disappointment, the smack down he had envisioned himself giving Toushiro did not happen. He promised himself that he would mess up that icy freaks face for touching his sister one of these days. Damn Chad for interfering, he seemed to have sympathy for Toushiro, or maybe it was something else.
Ichigo's thoughts were interrupted by Rukia stirring. He tightened his grip on her hand as she opened her deep violet orbs and they moved to look at Ichigo's brown ones. He couldn't help but smile.
Rukia blinked before talking. "Hey… baka," she whispered, the grogginess of sleep still in her voice.
"Hey," Ichigo's reply came. He tried to make it sound as non-caring as possible, but it was hard for him not to submit to his feelings for her after she died.
She blinked again, a bit more awake now. "You're holding my hand." She stated blandly.
"Yeah I know," Ichigo replied. His hand remained entangled with hers as they were silent for a few moments, "I told you we should have never split up."
"I can take car of myself, Ichi…" Rukia began but was cut off by Ichigo.
"I don't give a damn, you're never leaving my sight again…" He said
"Ichigo…" Rukia said in a stern tone.
"You don't get it…" He started getting a bit emotional, "I almost lost you, I can't lose you."
"Ichigo, why? I don't understand," Rukia sat up as she asked her question.
It took Ichigo a moment to gather enough courage and to find his resolve to continue, "Zangetsu lives within me just your Zanpakuto lives in yours… he told me that when my mother died it did nothing but rain. Old Man hates the rain." He looked down for a moment before getting lost in her magnificent eyes for a second time, "Then you came, and the rain stopped… What I'm trying to say is that I'm… I'm in love with you Rukia, and it took me seeing you dead and bleeding to admit it."
Rukia knew she had died but this confession of Ichigo's was not like him at all, not to mention odd. He continued.
"I knew there was something special about you. I felt something deeper with you than with any one else. You're so important to me Rukia," Ichigo stated, "And I know you could never love me an-"
Ichigo was cut off by Rukia pulling him closer, inches from her lips. She spoke softly, "Ichigo… you have no Idea how long I've waited for that." And with that said their lips were no longer separated but engaged in a dance. She kissed him with all that pent up lust and passion, but mostly love she held onto since the day Renji and her Brother came for her. Ichigo was surprised at first but got the picture as he closed his eyes and kissed back with as much love and passion. They pulled away for air and embraced each other.
"I love you Rukia Kuchiki, don't you ever leave me again…" Ichigo whispered into her ear.
The warmness of his breath on her ear made her closer her eyes and melt inside. "I won't, Love."
Ichigo ended the embrace and sat down next to her, back against a wall. He put an arm around her shoulders and she leaned into him, head resting on his chest. Rukia spoke first, "So who were you yelling at when we came back? I woke up for a little bit."
Ichigo rolled his eyes, "Toushiro and Karin were getting all cozy when we showed up behind them on our way here."
"Captain Hitsugaya and Karin, really?" Rukia asked rhetorically. She thought about it for a second, "They actually make a cute couple."
Ichigo nodded for a moment than blinked, "WHAT!? Not you too."
Rukia just giggled and snuggled into her Ichigo.
Two weeks and a few hollow attacks later…
Uryu Ishida had only loved one woman romantically his entire life. This woman was the late Bounto Yoshino Soma. For one black haired Quincy, falling in love with someone like your mother was extremely true.
He had mourned for a longtime after Yoshino's death and had recently gotten over the daily ach in his stomach from her absents; it still however pained him to think about her.
The Quincy took to sitting outside the Urahara shop after him and his comrades had come back. He was also sick of lying on a bed roll all day. He hadn't been as bad off as Rukia so he opted to spend the day outside in the fresh air.
He noticed three figures off in the distance with a good amount of riatsu to back them up. He took off his glasses and cleaned his lenses. By the time he had put them back on the three hazy figures had turned out to be Shinigami.
Approaching on the right was an extremely short, boyish-looking, man. Not to mention his black hair and stupid grin, "Yep that's defiantly that Hanataro fellow."
Uryu's eyes shifted to the far left. A tall blond man walked with a strait expression. He identified him as the Lieutenant of the third division Kira Izuru, who he had met only once.
His eyes then wandered to the middle Shinigami. His heart raced as he looked over the women. He pushed his glasses back up the bridge of his nose before standing to great the new comers.
Nemu Kurotsuchi, in all her silent, emotionless, yet sexy glory stopped before Uryu along with her two other companions. "Mr. Quincy," She greeted in her deadly sweat voice. She smiled just a little.
Uryu hesitated for a moment before bowing his head. The only reason he showed her respect was the fact that he owed her his life. She had saved him from her father's poison and he was forever grateful. She had also lent him power in the past. She was strange and mysterious and he like it, "What can I do for you Shinigami?"
"We require audience with Captain Histugaya, "She replied.
"He's in the back of the store," Uryu said stepping to the side so they could enter. He never took his eyes off the Shinigami goddess. She looked to her two companions, "Please inform the captain of our orders. " The two nodded and entered, Kira giving Uryu a hello nod as he went through the door, Hanataro gave an idiotic smile. Nemu however remained standing in front of Uryu. "It's good to see you, Mr. Quincy," She said effortlessly with what was more or less a real smile.
"You too… You can call my Uryu if you wish," Uryu smiled back fixing his glasses for the second time.
Nemu Simply nodded, "Then you may call me Nemu."
The two had never formally introduced themselves, even thought they knew each others name from their comrades. It was rather silly when Uryu thought about it, "So what brings you back here, Nemu?" It is a rather beautiful name.
"Simply to reinforce the captain. This place is the main target as you know," She giggled a little.
She was never like this before. "Yes, It is," He laughed lightly, "Would you like to go inside for a cup of tea?" He asked nonchalantly.
The Shinigami smiled a little more and fallowed the Quincy inside.
A/N: Sorry if ya'll were expecting some epic battle, but I promise there will be one within the next two to three chapters. I know this went away from the main characters but I had to settle the Ichi Rukia thing before I got on with the main couple. As for our Quincy, let's just say I love torturing Orihime. Hehe. Thanks for the reviews everyone and until next chapter R and R.