Chapter ten:
Summer Miracles
I wanted to be like you
I wanted everything so I tried to be like you,
and I got swept away
I didn't know that it was so cold and
You needed someone to show you the way
So I took your hand and, we figured out that,
When the tide comes I'd take you away.
-All You Wanted by Michelle Branch
One month after chapter nine…
May 23, 1944
Rukia's hand quivered as she brushed her ebony hair. She was so stupid… to actually accept immortality? To accept him? Truth be told, after Ichigo had kissed her, the rest of the night had been a blur. One, big, blur. All she remembered was blood. A lot of blood, among other things and feelings.
Things that really shouldn't have to be explained.
Rukia's hand drifted from her hair to her stomach. Unohana, Tokyo's top nurse, was never wrong. Yet, she had to be. Just once. This was a mistake. This… thing they had made… was all a mistake. A hybrid by blood. Not by spells. Not by conversion. By blood.
A baby. A baby Vampire. A baby human. A baby monster.
Of course, no matter what, Rukia would love the child, but she could never truly love it, knowing that the little life inside her could one day kill due to blood thirst and its Vampire heritage.
She would have to kill it.
Now.
Rukia's hand drifted towards the metal coat hanger. She would do it the way everyone else in the 40's handled abortions. But… who? Who would help? Unohana wouldn't permit it, or her assistants, Hanatarou or Isane. Inoue would rather kill herself than kill a baby. Kisuke and Yoruichi would rather die than put their best Slayer and her baby in jeopardy, no matter what it grew up to be. Mitsuki was…
Sick.
But she was the only one Rukia knew who would understand thoroughly.
Without thinking, Rukia stood, and sped out of the room. "Damn it, I have to do this…" She tried to convince herself that this was right. In her twenty-three years of life, Rukia had taught herself never to trust the beings of the next world. She had taught herself how to never get close enough to form any sort of feelings towards anyone.
Anything.
Yet, she had fallen in love with her mortal enemy.
"Mitsuki!" Rukia screeched her voice hoarse as she bounded into the room. Kiyone looked up, surprised at her friend's sudden outburst. Rukia took a second to look around the room. There were boxes everywhere, and a stack of important looking papers on her desk.
"Kiyone… what are you… where is…"
Kiyone sighed. "Rukia, I'm so sorry. But… Mitsuki is… she's dead, Rukia."
Rukia's eyes had a mixture of shock and disbelief. "Wh…what?"
"It was heart failure. Remember her admittance into the hospital last month? Well, she was already having trouble breathing, and her heart had started skipping a few beats." She started quietly, but loud enough so Rukia could hear her. "And yesterday… it just stopped all together. The doctor said it could have been anxiety, stress… whatever. It just… stopped."
Rukia didn't say a word; she just stood still and dropped her head so her face was shadowed.
"Get out." Her voice was quiet, hoarse. But Kiyone could hear her. "Get out."
Kiyone immediately complied, speeding out of the room and shutting the door behind her. As soon as she was alone, Rukia dropped to her knees, and sobbed. She didn't cry, though. Not once. Ever. She just sat there, rocking back and forth, trying to calm herself. She had to. She also had to look over the facts.
Her sister was dead.
She was pregnant with what most would consider a 'demon child'.
Rukia would go insane if this turned out not to be a dream.
Ichigo was…
Ichigo.
Would he help her? It was his child, after all. Then again… maybe he was like Rukia. Maybe he wanted it, but at the same time, didn't.
Just maybe.
It was decided. The next day, she would look for him. She would.
"So… where is she?"
Urahara looked at his companion. "Mitsuki? She's fine. In Osaka. I've got a friend there named Hiyori. Her father founded the psych ward there."
"How fun… wait a second, I thought Hiyori hated you." Yoruichi stated, a brow raised. Urahara nodded. "She does. She just owes me for saving her life about twenty years back." He shrugged. "Poor kid, if she ever does regain her sanity, it'll be hell for her to find out what happened." Urahara sighed wearily. "Damn it…"
"It was the right thing to do, Kisuke. She was being stalked by Vampires, not to mention that… incident, last month." Yoruichi sat next to her best friend. "I'm just concerned about Rukia. You do realize she's… with child, don't you?"
"If any of it involves me waking up in the morning's early hours due to the sound of puking, yes, I do." He laughed humorlessly.
Yoruichi enjoyed these moments. It was the closest thing to peace they'd ever have. "Do you know who the father is, though?"
Urahara sighed heavily, his worry growing. "Please, don't tell me it's Kurosaki Ichigo."
Present Day, March, 2009
Unknown POV
It's spring again.
'The start of a new beginning' as some would say. But no, there are no new beginnings in this day, this age.
"I know you're gonna kick those idiot's asses. I just wish that I'd be there to see it."
The look on his face when I said those final ten words was heartbreaking, and the moment they left my lips, I couldn't help the clenching feeling in my already bruised heart. I cried silent tears that night. It was nearly four months since the war, and I was leaving.
For good.
It's all Reiko's fault. I know I shouldn't say that, I'm cursing a dead woman. But, really, it was all her fault. Ichigo's too. If they hadn't been so selfish, the Hans... the Scourge... would have never...
I'm crying again.
"Damn it..." I curse, and bite my lip so hard, I draw blood.
I was born a human.
I became a Slayer.
I was converted into a Vampire.
What a busy life I lead.
"Karin." I say as she enters the room. "Lovely evening, isn't it?"
She nods slowly. The dark-haired former Kurosaki doesn't go outside anymore. Her face is deathly pale, making her hair and eyes stand out. She still tries to keep in touch with the styles of the 40's, being dressed in a dark blue dress suit.
I, though, have a more modern style. Green and white tee shirt, with dark-wash jeans. Karin looks at me distastefully. "Must you always wear such horrid outfits?" She asks me, wincing. I scoff. "Of course, it would look odd if I'm seen walking the streets in something like..." I pause. "That." I say bluntly, pointing at her outfit.
Karin sighs and I shrug.
"How is Hitsugaya-kun?" I ask after a moment of silence. Karin sits next to me, sighing tiredly. "My idiot husband? He ran into Mikoto-chan the other day. He was visiting you-know-who. I feel so bad for her. Sixty-five years, and she's still psycho."
My eyes harden slightly. "She isn't psycho, and you know it. In fact, it is Toshirou's fault. If he hadn't done what he did..."
"If he didn't do what he did, both he and Mitsuki would be dead."
I shrug again, leaning back on the couch. "You may be right, Karin. You may be right."
Karin sighs, and looks at me. "Why don't you ever go see...?" I don't let her finish. "You know exactly why I don't visit him. His daughter is dead, his lover was nearly killed, and he doesn't even care!"
I get up, wanting to leave.
"He cares. He truly does. He just never knew how to say it."
My eyes widen at the familiarity of the conversation.
END POV
Mitsuki's POV
Why is it that I'm so calm? So... carefree? It's both comforting, and unnerving. It's like... I'm the only one who's happy. So... blissfully happy.
I hate it.
I love it.
Hitsugaya... do I hate him? I thought I had gotten over that long ago... I love him, right? He's like the little brother I never had.
Byakuya... how long has it been since I last thought of him? Nearly... seventy years.
Wait... seventy? No, it's only been about ten years. For twins, we were never really close. Well, we were, but we never spent any real quality time together. I was always the happy-go-lucky little sister of Byakuya Kuchiki. And then... there was Bya-kun. He was always stern, yet... playful, in a weird way. Mom and dad always favored him over me. So did everyone else at school.
Nobody knew my name. No one even looked at me twice until they found out who I was. In the morning, no one would say, "Ohayo, Mitsuki-chan!" Instead, it would be, "Oh, look! That's Byakuya Kuchiki's sister!" And, along with that was, "He has a sister?" and, "Yup! They're twins!"
It was only when my parents got their divorce that I was finally able to get some recognition. I made new friends in Hisakumori. I had re-built my life.
After the move, I never saw my big brother Byakuya again.
Nearly five years after we moved, I suddenly asked my mother, "Mom, can we go see Byakuya?" She had looked at me sadly. "Sorry sweetheart. But that would mean seeing your father." She had looked at me with this odd expression, and I dropped the subject.
She died four and a half months later.
I can't really remember what had happened after I met my sister-in-law. I can't remember anything. Nothing at all. My memories just blurred together, running like wet paint on a blank canvas.
The only thing I can remember before I came here was a baby's cry.
A baby girl.
"Rika." I whisper, finally coming back from dream land. My voice is hoarse. The nurse at my side, Haruno, I think her name is, looks at me oddly. "I'm sorry, Miss Kuchiki, what was that? Who's Rika?"
Even I don't know. I just keep saying that name. Over and over. Like a prayer.
"Rika... Rika..." And then, all of a sudden, I'm screaming, thrashing around in the hospital bed. I only know this because I can hear the nurse shouting, "Doctor! Doctor!" and I feel my throat get unimaginably sore.
"NO!" I scream harder, and I can feel myself crying, sobbing, even. I feel my shoulders being shaken, and then a strange substance is being shot into my neck. I fall back onto the pillow, my eyes wide, and blank. I can't see, I can't feel, I can't even speak real words. I can only hear. I can only say one word.
"No... No... No... No..." I repeat it just like I repeated the name 'Rika'.
I hear a voice that, strangely, makes my blood boil. It's Hitsugaya.
I get some of the feeling back into my body. I know this because I can feel him hugging me tightly, like the way a brother would his frightened sister. "Calm down... Mitsuki. Everything's going to be okay."
I just keep sobbing. I try to say, "I know," But it just comes out as another frightened cry. I just keep crying, weakly trying to push him away. Mikoto's here now, as I start to regain my vision. I look at her, and my heart nearly stops.
She's no longer eight. She's a young lady, clad in a beautiful sun dress.
I keep crying, and can't stop. I can't say anything. The tears won't stop. I keep sobbing.
I start to wonder if I'll ever stop.
June 5, 1944
Underworld
"Aizen-sama!" Hinamori called, breathless. "Is it almost time? You-know-who is getting restless!" She sang almost cheerily.
Her superior grinned.
"I know."
It was a strangely quiet night. Not at all like the fight-filled, blood ridden evenings Rukia usually had. No, tonight was calm. Tonight was peaceful.
Peaceful enough to sleep without any nightmares.
Dream
Rukia looked around. She was in what looked like a forest. She looked down, and blinked twice. She was in a weird type of clothes, a kimono with pitch black sleeves, although the rest was white. "Hello?" She called; half-hoping someone would answer. "Hello!" She called again; louder.
"So... you're Kuchiki Rukia."
The Slayer turned swiftly, and came face-to-face with... herself? "What the hell..." Rukia breathed, and took a step back. "Who are you?"
The Rukia look-alike chuckled. "I'm Reiko. Reiko Kazuki." She smiled kindly at Rukia, taking a step forward. She was wearing almost the exact same robe as Rukia, except she had white sleeves, and the rest was black.
The two women started to circle each other. "Reiko, huh?"
She nodded slyly. Realization soon dawned on Rukia's face. "...A Slayer?"
Reiko stopped, and nodded, her face passive. "The first." She paused, "Well, technically, the second. My sister was the village priestess, so technically she was the first. I was given credit as the first, though." She smirked.
"My villages' Elders... they prayed to the Gods... day in and day out, for a strong warrior. They had prayed for twenty years. Then, I was born. They saw me as the perfect specimen, and took me to the village Witch Doctor, Mayuri Kurotsuchi, when I was no older than eight months. I was tested on, forced to drink many 'potions' and elixirs. It was five years later that I was finally released back into my family's custody."
Reiko sighed, looking at her hand, where a small, crescent moon shaped burn lay. "Kurotsuchi-san's experimentations paid off in the end. I was granted super-human strength and speed. The primal instincts of a killer." She scowled, and her hands clenched into fists. "Those around me saw me more as a monster, than a protector. I was always alone... until I met Ichigo-kun..." She smiled, and looked up at Rukia. "You felt that way, too, right?"
Rukia looked back at the times she had spent with Ichigo. He had changed her life for the better. He had changed Rukia's way of thinking towards her mother, and he had shown her a certain kindness no one else had, ever before. Rukia nodded. "I do." She barely noticed she was speaking in the present tense.
Reiko smiled brightly, and walked until she was right in front of Rukia. She placed a gentle hand on Rukia's still-flat stomach.
"This baby... this beautiful baby girl... will become strong... and she will live, if, and only if," She paused, "you don't tell Ichigo."
Rukia's eyes widened.
Rukia shot up, her eyes wide. Tears were brimming at the edges of her violet orbs. "Man..." She muttered as she brought her legs up, tucking her knees under her chin.
"What am I gonna do?"
Much like Rukia was at her own home, Ichigo was also in his room, sound asleep.
Dream
Ichigo looked around. He hadn't dreamt in such a long time... he had almost forgotten what it was like.
"In the deep forest of lamentations... I can hear the cicadas..." The orange-haired vampire whirled around, facing a young woman. She had long black hair, and glowing amber eyes. She had a stoic, almost condescending face, and she wore a dark purple dress on, much like the one Rukia wore when he met her at Sereitei.
"It was a beautifully fine day, and you breathed in the crisp summer breeze... and during that one split second, the clock's needle stopped." Her singing voice was heavenly, he mused, almost as angelic as Rukia's.
"Who are you?" He finally asked, and she looked at him, her face still stoic. "You know who I am." And then she was singing again. "You heard someone crying out... but from where, exactly? All good children should go to sleep... those who don't shall be dragged down by prying hands."
Then, she spoke. "Why are you not asleep?"
A sharp shriek echoed through the forest. Rukia. Ichigo immediately thought of the young Slayer. He started running, leaving behind the still singing girl. The screaming suddenly stopped, and was replaced by a baby's cry.
"What the hell...?" Ichigo cursed, looking around for anyone... Rukia, that girl... someone... "HELLO?" He shouted, but his only response was his own echo. "RUKIA?" Another echo.
The crying stopped.
"Do you get it now?" Ichigo looked over his shoulder at the same girl from earlier. "Don't you get it? Don't you get who I am?" She asked, glaring ferociously at the Vampire in front of her.
His eyes widened, although he didn't know why. "Rika...?" Who is Rika? He thought confusedly as the young woman took out a long sword. She smiled evilly.
"Bingo." And then, there was blood.
"From now on, when you hear the distorted sounds of crying, on that crimson-painted path... know that the cicadas are crying..."
Ichigo shot up, panting. Who the hell was Rika?
And why did she want to kill him?
To Ichigo Kurosaki, nothing ever made sense.
"Hello, my name is Ritsuko. Ritsuko Hanasaki. And this is my friend, Amanda Sinclair. We're trainees from the academy!" A pink-haired girl with crimson colored eyes smiled brightly at Ukitake. Ukitake smiled back warmly. "Oh, hello. That's funny... I didn't receive any notifications about new trainees arriving today..." He looked over the day's schedule.
"That's odd..."
"Oh, they probably made a mistake!" Amanda spoke up.
Ukitake looked at the papers, then back at the two girls. "Hmm... maybe you're right... okay, then. Come on. I'll get Rukia and Orihime to show you guys around." He motioned for them to follow him. The girls obediently obeyed.
Ukitake never noticed the two girl's evil grins.
A/N: Kind of short, I know, but I had a major case of writer's block! Sorry guys! And I know I didn't delve much into Ichigo and Rukia's... night, but I'm a real prude, and I'd love to keep my innocence for a little while longer!
So... not much to say here except for... review? Pretty please?
-TMU
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