至福
Sabitsuita kizuato ha tashika na jikan de kakikeshite
Ikidzuku kodou de yami wo uchinuiteku
My rusted scars erased all certain memories I had
And with a hammering heartbeat, they shot through the darkness
-Justice to Believe By Nana Mizuki
After almost two and a half weeks away, Rukia was finally going back to school.
She was immediately relieved, it was a habit of hers. Before Ichigo found her, she always loved going to school, and weekends were her worst nightmare. I'm sure you can guess why.
"Rukia-chan!" Momo, Tatsuki, and Orihime shouted, running up after school that day. Nana was with them, but stayed silent.
"Nice to see you're back, Kuchiki-san." Nana said simply, not really wanting to get in a conversation. She then suddenly hugged her, like they've been friends forever.
"Thank you, Nana-san." Rukia said, confused. Rukia was glad she was back, too. Nana nodded, the ghost of a smile tugging at her lips. She walked away, but stopped when she heard Momo call out her name. "Nana-san, where are you going?" Nana looked over her shoulder at the four girls and Ichigo. "To the elementary school. Asuna asked me to pick up her little sister and drop her at the daycare.''
"Oh... okay. I'll come too!" Orihime chirped, and ran up to Nana. It was already uncomfortable with Ichigo in the same room as her, and Yachiru always cheered Orihime up, no matter how annoying the pink-haired kindergartner was. "No, it's alright Inoue..." Nana started to protest, but Orihime wouldn't take no for an answer.
"Inoue sure looks happy." Momo commented.
She should be... having Ichigo as a boyfriend. Rukia thought, feeling her heart clench in sadness.(Note: Rukia doesn't know Ichigo and Orihime broke up.)
"She sure does." Rukia agreed, not noticing Ichigo, who was the only one who took note of the crack in her voice.
"So...That's her?" A dark voice asked. The author likes to call him Creep #1.
"No you idiot! Those are her friends. Inoue Orihime and Aiiro Nana." Said another voice. Let's just call him Creep#2, okay?
"Inoue...Inoue... hey is she the sister of Inoue Sora?" Creep #1 asked. "Sure is."
"So... what's the plan?" Creep #1 asked. His partner smiled evilly. "Easy. All we have to do is..."
"And that's when the teacher yelled at Kagura for eating the glue." Yachiru said, finishing up a little story involving her friend Kagura and an art project.
"How interesting Yachiru." Orihime said sweetly. She then looked up at Nana, who was walking a few feet in front of them.
"Nana-san," Orihime started, unsure how to ask the following question. "Yes Inoue?" Nana asked stoically. Very unlike her. She'd been acting strange all week, Orihime noted. "Why do you always ignore Kuchiki-san?" Nana thought for a second. Should she tell her? Orihime would keep it a secret, if anyone.
"Inoue... you see, Rukia's..." Nana then caught sight of Yachiru, running into the street, obviously interested with something on the other sidewalk.
"Yachiru-chan!" Nana yelled, running into the street, pushing Yachiru out of the way as a black car came speeding around a corner.
"NANA-SAN!"
Crash!
White. Pure white bliss. Happiness.
That was the last thing Aiiro Nana ever saw.
Rukia walked inside the Kurosaki house.
Ichigo and her had just returned from Nana's funeral. It seemed, to Rukia, anyone that came even remotely close to her would die. It was only a matter of time before her other friends were next.
Ichigo, noticing Rukia's silence, spoke up. "It's not your fault." Rukia looked up.
"Who said I ever thought it was my fault?" Ichigo stared at her. "Well, you just look so guilty. You think it's your fault because you and Nana finally got close, and then she suddenly dies. It's not your fault. It's not her fault. You can't blame anyone." He stared at Rukia, who was still silent.
"You think it's him don't you?'' Ichigo asked. Rukia nodded slowly. "Don't worry. If it is him, we'll catch him. I won't let anything happen to you or the others. Okay? I'll protect you."
Rukia looked at her feet. "Thank you..." She quietly sobbed.
Orihime held a small piece of paper tightly.
"Nana-chan asked me to give this to Kuchiki-san, but I don't think I can. Could you Orihime? Just give it to her, nothing else." Rangiku said, looking at Orihime pleadingly.
Orihime thought for a second. How would Rukia react when she read this letter? Would she be happy? Or angry? Of course she'd be sad. Perhaps she would even feel grateful towards Nana, and she would also finally know why she was so cold and distant.
"Okay. I'll do it." Orihime said, putting the folded up piece of paper into her purse.
"Kuchiki-san." Orihime said at school the next day. She fingered the letter she kept hidden behind her back. "Yes, Inoue?" Rukia asked, somewhat gloomily. She was probably still mourning Nana's death. "What is it?"
"Na-" Orihime was cut off as Ochi-sensei appeared. "Okay class, take your seats!"
"Oh, can you tell me later, Inoue?" Rukia asked. Inoue nodded, sitting down as Rukia walked away. Orihime sighed, and read the letter over once again. She frowned. "Sure thing Kuchiki-san. Sure thing..."
"What was it you wanted to say, Inoue?" Rukia asked after class. Ichigo was waiting for her so they could walk home together.
"Uh, you see..." Orihime's hand moved to her messanger bag, where the letter was. Rukia was still recovering from her encounter with Kaitou, which had been only three weeks before. She wouldn't be able to handle the letter's contents.
"Um... never mind. It's not important. I...I'll tell you later. 'kay?'' Orihime said, putting on a bright smile.
Rukia looked unsure, but nodded. "Okay. Just tell me when you're ready."
"Alright... I'll see you tomorrow, sayonara, Kuchiki-san!" Orihime chirped, walking away.
Rukia walked towords Ichigo, who was waiting patiently a couple feet away.
"What'd Inoue want?" Ichigo asked.
Rukia shrugged. "She said it was nothing. She was fidgety, though. She was hiding something."
Ichigo shrugged it off.
One week later:
"Oi, Rukia-nii, it's time for school." Yuzu said, trying to snap Rukia out of her stupor. "Ichi-nii isn't gonna wait forever you know!" Karin said, walking into the room.
"Sorry, guys. I'm not feeling well today. Could you ask Ichigo to ger my homework? Might as well not fall behind." Rukia sad, staring intently at the ground below her bed.
"What's wrong?" Yuzu asked in a motherly tone of voice. "You do look pale. Dang it! I have to go to school..." Karin walked next to her sister. "Looks like we're gonna have to rely on dad..." Karin then relized what she just said. "On second thought, scratch that. I'll stay home. I haven't missed a single day of the year, and besides, Ichi-nii and I are the only ones who have enough nerve in the house to kick him upside the head. Go, Yuzu. I'll stay." Karin replied.
Yuzu thought about it, then nodded. "Okay."
When she walked to the front door, Ichigo asked, "Where's Rukia?"
"Inside. She's sick. Karin's staying home to help take care of her.
Inside, Rukia thought about a certain conversation she had only days before.
FLASHBACK
RING RING!
RING RING!
"Hello?" Rukia asked.
"Hello, Ru-chan." A wicked voice responded.
Rukia's eyes widened. It couldn't be... could it?
"Otousan?" The word was bitter on Rukia's tounge. She mentally cursed. Why the hell did she call him that?
"You know you can't stay there forever." Kaitou said, dead serious. "They can't protect you forever. I'll get you back. I'll kill that boy, and then I'll kill you."
Rukia, eyes wide, dropped the phone.
The line was dead.
END FLASHBACK
Rukia buried her face into her pillow, hiding the tears.
As she did, a single thought passed through her mind.
What am I gonna do?
A/N: Sorry it was so short! I have a lot of stuff I had to do this weekend...
Anyway, what's in this mysterious letter?
REVIEW to find out!
-Tsuki Meroko Uchiha
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