Promise
"Hey Rukia?"
"Yeah? What is it, strawberry?" A tick appeared on his forehead, but Ichigo tried to ignore it.
"Well, I've been wondering... Inoue's name means princess. Chad's means tiger. And mine means number one protector..."
"Strawberry..." She coughed, looking away for a moment. Ichigo turned red with anger for a second. "Anyway," He growled, clenching and unclenching his fists, trying to make his anger dissipate. "I've been wondering, what does your name mean?"
She shrugged. "I don't know."
He raised a brow, and looked at her incredulously for a moment. "You don't know what your own name means?" She shook her head, and his mouth dropped. "Does it really matter? I mean, as long as I have a name and I know what it is, I don't really think it's all that important."
"Y-yeah, but don't you ever... I don't know, wonder?"
A brow rose. "Wonder? Wonder about... what, exactly?"
"I don't know. Don't you wonder why your name is Rukia? Or why you were given that name?"
She shrugged, giving him a slight grin. "I don't know."
Three weeks later...
"Hey, Kon, have you seen Rukia anywhere? My dad's goin' crazy looking for that midget." The little plush lion dove at Ichigo, enraged. "Don't you dare disrespect nee-san! She's not short!"
Ichigo sighed. "Yeah. And I bleached my hair. So, have you seen her?" Kon nodded, and wordlessly handed him a folded up piece of paper. "What the..." Ichigo stared at the parchment, trying to comprehend it. On the side was a drawing of (what he assumed was) a rabbit. Chappy the Rabbit, to be precise.
"Erase all the R's..."
I've gone to Soul Society for a few days. I should be back by Sunday morning. If your family or anyone else asks, I stayed at Inoue's. Don't wait up, Strawberry!
-Rukia K.
"Damn it... she really should tell me this stuff before she leaves."
Soul Society...
"Thanks, Captain Ukitake." Rukia bowed at the thirteenth squad captain, and started for the doors.
"Ah, Rukia, one more thing..." Rukia looked behind her at her captain. "Hm?" The white haired man smiled at his subordinate. "Byakuya wanted me to tell you that he wanted you back at the Kuchiki Estate, right away." Rukia blinked.
"Okay."
Mitsuki Kuchiki was Byakuya's older twin sister. She was the third seat in the sixth squad, and wasn't really what you would call a typical noblewoman. She was loud, spontaneous, and stubborn. She was sort of like Rangiku, although, unlike her, gossiping and shopping weren't her favorite pastime.
No, she preferred annoying the hell out of the higher-ups in her squad. Most particularly Renji Abarai. Rukia knew Mitsuki always hated him anyway.
It started out as a normal evening at the estate. Rukia had looked everywhere for Byakuya, but he was nowhere to be found. She strolled out into the main garden, and smiled. Her sister-in-law was sitting by the koi pond, staring up into the sky. "Hey, Ruki-Ruki!" That was her nickname for Rukia. She always did have a problem of giving people annoying nicknames. Byakuya, for example, was Byaki, and Hisana's was Hisa-chii.
"Hi, ane..." She put a hand up, stopping the petite shinigami. "Ah ah ah! It's Mitsuki, remember? Just Mitsuki!" Rukia smiled. "Have you seen Byakuya?"
She thought for a second, scratching her head childishly. "Byaki-kun? Hmmm... I don't really know. I think he and that brat Renji went on a scouting mission." Rukia chuckled. "Why do you hate him? Renji, I mean." Mitsuki shrugged. "There's something not right about that kid. Maybe I don't like him because of his hair. It's too... spiky. And long."
Rukia grinned. "But you don't mind Ichigo." Mitsuki shrugged. "Here's the difference... Ichigo's nice. And Renji's a baboon."
Rukia shook her head. She supposed it made sense. Renji hated Mitsuki, too.
"Oh, before I forget, here." Mitsuki tossed up a little black book. "What in the...?" Mitsuki grinned, lying down on the grass and closing her eyes contentedly. "Bya-ku-yuki wanted me to give this to you." She giggled. "Just read it after you leave Sereitei, sweetie!" She stuck her tongue out playfully.
Rukia smiled. "Fine."
Kurosaki residence...
"I just don't get why you joined that Italian cultures class at your school. Or why you're asking me." Ichigo stared at Yuzu, exasperated. She shrugged. "You're in high school. It seemed like the easiest choice. Now come on, quiz me! I have a vocabulary test tomorrow!"
"In Italian?"
Yuzu sighed. "In Italian." She confirmed.
"Alright... beautiful."
"Bella."
"Moon."
"Luna."
"...Strawberry." He growled.
Yuzu giggled. "Fragola."
"Light."
"Lucia."
Ichigo looked up. Did she say... Rukia? "What? Did you just say Rukia?" Yuzu laughed, and shook her head. "Nope. But it does sound like Ruki-nii's name, huh? Lucia means light in Italian. We usually pronounce it Rucia, though. I wonder if that's where Rukia's name comes from!" Yuzu shrugged. "Well, thanks!" She left his room.
"Light..." Ichigo repeated the word slowly, almost as if he couldn't believe it. Rukia Kuchiki was nothing similar to light. If anything, she was an angel of darkness.
"Ichigo?" He whirled around, and smiled at said 'angel', who was sitting on his window sill. "Hey. I thought you said you'd be back tomorrow."
She smiled lightly; "I would have," Her smile turned sheepish. "If Rangiku hadn't suggested a night out for drinking. I had to get away somehow."
Ichigo chuckled. "I see." Rukia hopped through the window. "I'm staying in here tonight. Don't worry; I'll be out before you wake up." She flashed him a wide grin. She knew he didn't care if she slept in here. She had snuck in his room many times during thunderstorms.
"I know what it means." Her hand stopped on the handle of his closet. She turned, a bewildered look on her face. "Hm?" He sighed, his eyes blank, staring at the ceiling. "Your name. I finally figured it out." He smirked.
"My light, my Lucia."
Rukia's eyes widened a fraction, then she smiled. "Good night, Ichigo."
The closet door shut quietly.
Once inside, Rukia flipped through the journal.
Dear diary,
Rukia still hasn't been found. I refuse to believe she is dead, though. It's times like these where I wish mom were here. She would have known what to do. As a matter of fact, if she were here, Rukia most likely would be here, right now, with me.
Byakuya keeps telling me not to strain myself. But it's instinct. I was the closest thing to a mother Rukia could ever hope to have, and I abandoned her. Oh, darn... I'm crying again. I just take the advice my mother used to give me...
'Keep your head held high, and your mind strong, because, eventually, everything will go along.'
I can remember the song she always used to sing to us. Rukia, in particular.
'I'll leave on a journey heading to the other side of the sun and wind.
Surely, without a map, the door into paradise will open.
The morning you were born into this world, a bell of blessings rang forth.
Embracing only a single treasure, wondrous beings will be born.
I won't forget my feelings from that day.
They flow through my heart.
Dear My Songs.'
She always used to say, 'Dear my Hisana, dear my Lucia,' too. I wondered what that meant. It wasn't until later, much, much later, that I found out Rukia's name was derived from the Italian name Lucia, meaning 'Light'. I love that name so much.
Because she was the light.
The thing that had shielded me from darkness for so long.
March 7, 1959
Rukia remembered the song faintly from her dreams.
"In the middle of our journey, we'd aim towards the country of the sun and the stars. Even without a map, we'll make it to the Promised Land. The love-touched legend is constantly changing the endless future so surely, many dreams can be granted... so smile"
She smiled gently, and opened the closet door, walking out stealthily. She strode towards the strawberry teen, who was fast asleep on his bed. Rukia blinked at the clock. 11:41 PM.
She giggled almost noiselessly, and pecked Ichigo gently on the lips.
"G'night, Berry-Head."
Ichigo smiled as the closet door shut.
A/N: The song is the English Lyrics to The Paradise of the Sun ~Promised Land~ from Mermaid Melody.
Hope you guys enjoyed it! Please review!
-TMU
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