It's All Right
But nothing's greater
Than the rush that comes with your embrace
And in this world of loneliness
I see your face
Yet everyone around me
Thinks that I'm going crazy, maybe, maybe
-Bleeding Love by Leona Lewis
Tatsuki and Momo raced through the crowded sidewalks of Karakura's main street.
"Damn you Arisawa!" Momo screamed through the crowds.
"M-me? What did I do?" Tatsuki asked as Momo finally caught up with her. "If you hadn't failed your driving test frickin' eight times, you would have your licence, and most likely, a car, which could drive us to Ichigo's in under five minutes!"
"Ya, sure, blame all this on me."
"I am!"
Tatsuki and Momo finally stopped in front of Ichigo's home.
"Kurosaki-san... Ichigo? Yuzu? Karin? Anyone home?" Momo started yelling. Then Ichigo opened the door, Karin and Isshin standing behind him. Isshin and Karin had a look of shock on their face, while Ichigo had one of boredom.
Tatsuki raised an eyebrow. At least he looks better than he did last week. She thought, offering a smile to her orange-haired friend.
In return, he shifted his feet, and quietly asked, in a raspy voice, "What is it Tatsuki?"
And Tatsuki, out of breath, finally wheezed out the words Ichigo had been waiting to hear for the past three weeks.
"She's awake."
Toshirou looked down, placing freshly cut lillies on the cold, gray stone.
"I know they were your favorite..." He said solemnly.
"I just got Karin's call, you know, Karin, Kurosaki's sister?" He took in a breath. "Kiyone and Yoruichi... promised they would come down in about a week. You know, to say goodbye." He sighed. Even if she wasn't actuallyhere, how was he supposed to tell Mitsuki this?
"The call was about... her."
The wind died down, as if urging him to continue.
"...She's awake. After three weeks she's finally awake."
The wind picked up, leaves in the trees around him rustling.
Almost like they were happy.
"But... There's something else..."
"W-what do you mean?" Ichigo asked as he, Momo, Tatsuki, Karin, and Yuzu stood at the front desk of Karakura Hospital.
"Exactly what I meant. Amnesia. She can't remember you guys, Kaitou, or any of her life. We asked her some questions, and she told us all she could recall was a familiar, male voice." Unohana said, shaking her head.
"A male voice?" Tatsuki asked. "It could be Byakuya, his voice echoing somewhere in her subconscious."
"Kaitou? That whackjob was stalking Rukia for months!" Momo exclaimed.
Karin looked away. "Ichi-nii...? After all, they didlove each other..." She mumbled. Yuzu looked at her twin.
"What was that Karin?" She yelled.
"Huh?" Karin looked up in shock. Had she said that out loud? "I-I mean do! They do love each other!"
Yuzu shrugged, calming down.
"Her room is number 758. Right down that hallway, and to the right." Unohana said, pointing to the long corridor on her left.
The group ran straight for the room, Momo, who was pulling up the back shouting, "Arigatou gozimasu, Unohana-san!"
Ichigo walked into Rukia's room.
The group had decided he should go in first, given the situation.
Ichigo's breath caught in his throat.
There, sitting on the bed was Rukia, a blank look in her amethyst eyes. She was staring out the window, humming a soft tune.
"R-Rukia?" He spoke in a dry voice.
She turned slowly, tilting her head. "You know me?" She asked in a confused voice. She pouted a little. "I'm sorry... my head's a bit... jumbled, right now. I can't remember anything." She spoke in a light, carefree tone, as if it was as simple as discussing the weather.
Ichigo smiled sadly. He had never seen her this... carefree before.
Even when she was with him.
"I'm so sorry, I didn't catch your name!" Rukia said, patting the spot next to her, signaling for him to sit.
He obliged, and smiled ruefully. "The name's Ichigo. Ichigo Kurosaki. I go to your high school."
"Oh." Rukia said, grinning. She leaned back, her head against the wall. The two were silent for a couple minutes, then Rukia spoke again. "Were... were we ever close? You know, friends?"
Ichigo bit his lip. "Somewhat." He felt his heart drop when he saw her eyes dull a little, then focus on the ground. "One of your very best friends Tatsuki used to go to the same dojo I did when I was a kid. We used to spar together, and I met you through her."
"I see." She spoke in dissapointment, almost as if she expected something else.
"Mr. Kurosaki?" Ichigo turned to see a light haired woman at the door, smiling broadly. 'Isane Kotetsu' was the name on her name tag. "I'm sorry to interrupt, but visiting hours are over. You need to leave now." She smiled, if possible, wider. "I'll give you guys two more minutes."
"I'll come by again later." Ichigo said, shaking her hand. She uncomfortably shook it back. "Thanks."
He turned to leave, when her voice stopped him again. "Hold on,"
She walked up to him, wrapped her arms around his neck, and hugged him. He hugged her small frame back, never wanting to let go.
"I'm sorry," She said, releasing her grip and falling back on the hospital bed. "I... I can't explain it, but I just felt like I needed to do that." She shrugged, and smiled broadly.
He smiled back.
"It's alright."
Tatsuki grabbed the back of Ichigo's hair as soon as he exited the hospital room.
The others had left, leaving only Tatsuki there.
"ICHIGO! What the hell was that?" She said, yanking his head.
"OW! What the hell? What are you talking about?"
Tatsuki crossed her arms over her chest. "Why didn't you tell her the truth? What was the deal with that 'just friends' crap?"
"Did you not see her Tatsuki?" Ichigo yelled.
"Shh!" Was heard from a nearby nurse.
"Sorry ma'am." Ichigo put on a fake smile, and dragged Tatsuki into an empty room. "Tatsuki." He started. She was hurt. Emotionally and physically. I can't hurt her anymore. She only left because Kaitou threteaned to hurt me and my family. She's in that bed because she was protecting us!" He sighed. "It's my turn to protect her."
"Okay. But you were her last hope. Where is she gonna stay now?" Tatsuki asked, shifting her weight to her left foot.
"Mitsuki. On the back of her lettler was a copy of her will. It said Rukia got Tsukiko, Mitsuki's old mother's home. It's here in Karakura, about five minutes away from your house." Ichigo said, giving her the copy.
"So... Mitsuki had a choice: Live here in Karakura, her phsyco father trailing her every day, or live in an apartmant building on the East Side of Tokyo." Tatsuki chewed on her bottom lip. "She made the right choice for Tokyo."
Ichigo rolled his eyes.
A/N: DON'T KILL ME!
Her losing her memory was terribly cliche, I know because in every one of these stories I've read, they lose their memories.
But it had to be done. If not, the story would've ended this chapter.
I just got back this morning, and let me just say: PARIS IS AWSOME! Damn expensive, but still, AWSOME!
Please review!
-Tsuki Meroko Uchiha
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