Three weeks later:
Rukia crawled to the edge of the alleyway, rain pouring down.
After she had gotten home from the hospital, which was less than a week ago, Kaitou had beaten Rukia to no more than a bloody pulp.
Rukia was cold all over; she had run away from home and with all the strength she had left, crawled into the alley.
Maybe she could fall asleep... right there, no nightmares, no feeling, just nothing. Just fall asleep and never wake up.
It seemed nice...
Rukia closed her eyes, almost totally numb from cold.
She then remembered some advice Hisana had told her, a week before she died.
"Remember Rukia, to live is to love. And to love is to live."
"What's that supposed to mean, sis?" Rukia asked, her big indigo eyes boring into her sisters'.
Hisana chuckled. "It means live life to it's fullest; love comes in strange ways."
Rukia knew that was true. She had met her best friends Momo and Tatsuki in kinder garden, during a mud fight against the boys.
Rukia smiled sadly at the thought.
She closed her eyes, and just as she lost consciousness, she felt warmth engulf her, and a soft voice say, "It's alright".
She opened her eyes just enough to see warm amber eyes.
An angel?
She smiled slightly at the thought.
"I'm worried. Do you think she'll be okay? I mean, she's out of school for weeks, and then I see her bloody and beaten in the middle of the street?"
Isshin looked at Ichigo. It had been almost four hours since the orange-haired teen found Rukia on the side of the street, and she still hadn't woken up.
"She'll be fine, Ichigo. Don't worry." Isshin tried to reassure Ichigo.
To be honest, Isshin hadn't been very surprised to see Rukia like that. He knew something was going on.
"When she wakes up, go see how she's feeling." Isshin said, before walking away.
All Ichigo could do was nod.
A soft groan was heard as Rukia opened her eyes.
She was in a room... the hospital? No, the hospital was pure white. This room had different colors all around. Greens, blues, reds...
"You're up." A voice commented, and Rukia looked up to see Ichigo, standing in the doorway.
"K-kurosaki-kun?" Rukia stuttered.
Ichigo smirked. "Why does everyone call me that? Just call me Ichigo, okay, Rukia?"
Rukia stared at him. She hadn't even been aware that she always called him that.
"Sorry..." The Kuchiki girl mumbled.
"So..." Ichigo started, trying to break the silence. "I heard about your brother... I didn't really know him... but I'm sorry."
Rukia's fists clenched at the mention of Byakuya.
Ichigo saw the reaction and immediately regretted mentioning Byakuya.
"S-sorry!" Ichigo said, putting his hands up. "Don't start crying!" Ichigo didn't know Rukia well enough to know she wasn't a crier.
Rukia laughed almost bitterly. "Don't worry. I don't cry. I never do..." Rukia's eyes became somewhat distant as she whispered the last part.
Ichigo was confused. Never cries? Why would she? What would she cry for? Ichigo then decided to ask about her bruises.
"Oi, Rukia," Rukia looked up. "Where'd you get those bruises? I heard your house got broken into, but most of those injuries should've healed by now."
"Um nowhere." Rukia said quickly. "I...I'm a klutz. I always get hurt. That's why I always have those bruises." Rukia said. She decided to take a page from Byakuya's book. 'Klutz'. The number one excuse.
Ichigo seemed to buy it. "But why were you out in the middle of the street? Beaten so badly? A klutz wouldn't get that hurt!"
Rukia was silent.
"Did someone...do that to you?" Ichigo questioned, his voice barley above a whisper.
He frowned as she looked away, wrapped in silence. It was a yes.
He suddenly felt angry. Who would do that to her?
"I'm calling your parents." Ichigo said, standing up.
He blinked when he saw her shake her head wildly. No.
He was suddenly fearful. What if someone in her family was doing that to her?
If anyone, it was her father. Byakuya was, of course, dead. Ichigo knew Rukia once had a sister, but died. No one really knew much about her. Her mom...Rukia's mother had been dead for the past twelve years. No way it could be her.
It had to be her father, if anyone. He was usually drunk, as Ichigo saw it. The first time Ichigo saw Kaitou, he was beyond drunk. It was in elementary school, Rukia, in third grade, Byakuya, fifth.
For now though, Ichigo wouldn't question the silent girl.
"I'll get you some water." Ichigo finished, and walked out.
Before he left the room, however, he looked over his shoulder.
"You know... If you don't want to go home... you could... stay here, if you want." The teen said, looking into the shocked eyes of Kuchiki Rukia.
"R-really?" Rukia asked unbelievingly, finding her voice.
Ichigo sighed. His dad wouldn't mind. He would probably encourage it, because of Rukia's condition.
"Of course." The orange-haired boy said, walking out.
But as he got to the kitchen, a thought crossed him.
What would he tell Orihime?
Ichigo liked Orihime, but as nothing more than friends.
Ichigo treated the auburn-haired girl more like a little sister, than a girlfriend.
He didn't know what he was thinking when he agreed to go out with her.
Ichigo guessed he just pitied her. Orihime had been chasing him since the first day of middle school. And with the death of her brother, Orihime was pretty much all alone.
She had friends, her best friend Tatsuki, and Rukia and Momo, whom she met through Tatsuki. She was also friends with two upperclassmen, a senior, Matsumoto Rangiku, and a softmore, who always seemed to avoid the group when around Rukia, Ai-iro Nana.
Ichigo carried the glass of ice-cold water into the guest room where Rukia was currently resting. As he did, he thought about the Orihime situation a little more. And, deep in his mind, Ichigo knew...
They had to break up.
A/N: I know. Short chapter, but I update kinda fast... Plus, it's okay, now you know dumping Orihime won't take too long.
Somewhat IchiRuki, and Ichigo's catching on pretty fast, huh?
And, for my OC Nana, she plays a pretty major role at the end, after Ichigo and Rukia get together.
Anyway, I'll see you next time, which will probably be during a oneshot while I brainstorm, or next weekend.
Ja ne!
~T. Meroko U.
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