Rukia woke up the next morning with the sun shining into her eyes. She slowly sat up and scanned the room. The clock read 9am and while Karin was still sleeping in her bed, Yuzu was missing.
Knowing very well that she must be making breakfast, Rukia jumped out of bed and went to the bathroom to get ready for the new day.
Once she was inside, Rukia grabbed her toothbrush, applies some toothpaste on the brushes, and started to brush. It was then she noticed how familiar she has gotten to this house. Not only that, but she was now more comfortable in the human world in general. After rescuing Orihime and before the start of the Winter War, Rukia was dragged around by Yuzu and Karin getting even more introduced to this world and its lifestyle.
Of course she still liked it better when Ichigo took her out because then she could use some of his money to buy more Chappy items.
Rukia rinsed her mouth and cupped her hands to collect the falling water and splashed it over her face. It was very refreshing. She smiled as she repeated this several times until she turned off the faucet and grabbed her towel.
"You're up early."
Rukia turned around and smiled at the orange top who was yawning and scratching his bed-hair.
"Ohayo, strawberry," She smirked.
Ichigo just grunted as he pushed her aside and grabbed his toothbrush. As he started to brush his teeth Rukia finished cleaning her face and left to see Yuzu. Ichigo smiled as he watched the retreating form of his petite friend. He couldn't help but think back what happened the day before while ending his fight with Aizen
Flashback
"ICHIGO!"
"STAY BACK, RUKIA!"
Rukia stopped where she was and just watched the damaged body of Ichigo struggling to stay up. But he was still in a much better shape than Aizen. He was a bloody mess and was down on one knee, barely able to move.
"Not—cough—bad, Kurosaki-kun," Aizen said as he struggled to breathe. He looked at Rukia and let out a snort, "Remind me next time to bring a cheer squad to the battle as well."
Ichigo stared at the man as if he was crazy (more than he already was). "What are you talking about? What do you mean next time?"
Aizen gave a small smirk. His face was bloody and a cut ran down his left eye. He was in a big mess and he knew it. But he still had that confident face that made Ichigo sick to his stomach.
"Exactly what it means," Aizen said when a beam shot down from the sky and surrounded him, "Next time."
"NO!" Ichigo cried as Aizen started to retreat, "DON'T FUCK WITH ME! GETSUGA TENSHOU!" Ichigo swung Zangetsu at Aizen with all his might.
Aizen looked down and saw the attack coming fast. His eyes flashed horror. "NO!"
BOOM!
Getsuga Tenshou made a hit and there was a loud explosion. Smoke was coming from where it hit.
But as it dispersed there was no sign of Aizen anywhere.
"Where is he?" Ichigo asked, disbelief in his eyes, "WHERE THE FUCK IS HE?"
"Ichigo! Enough!" Rukia ran to her friend and grabbed his arm to stop him from shunpo-ing away, "You got him! He's dead!"
"NO HE ISN'T! HE'S NOT THERE!" Ichigo cried. He tired to go after Aizen but Rukia was persistent. "WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU? I HAVE TO GO AFTER HIM—eugh…"
Ichigo suddenly collapsed from the lack of energy. Rukia caught him just in time and slowly lowered their bodies to the ground. Rukia placed Ichigo's head on her lap… just like after his battle with Grand Fisher.
"Ichigo," Rukia whispered as she stroked his spiky hair, "Stop. No more."
Ichigo was breathing hard from the lack of energy and the annoying guilt of not killing Aizen. But as Rukia kept stroking his hair, his breathing calmed and his expression relaxed a little.
He looked up at Rukia. "I'm sorry."
"For what?"
Ichigo swallowed hard. "For not getting Aizen in time."
Rukia gave him a weak smile and shook her head. "Nonsense. I'm sure you got Aizen. And even if you didn't, it's going to be okay. That man is too torn up to be a threat now."
Ichigo let out a small laugh then grunted in pain.
Rukia placed her palms onto his bare chests and began her kidou.
The orange head looked up at her and noticed tears in the corner of her eyes, slowly descending down. He painfully lifted one of his hands and wiped off the tear that was falling down her cheek and on to his. Rukia looked at him and gave him a reassuring smile so he returned the smile too.
The two sat there, Rukia trying to heal much of Ichigo as possible and Ichigo staring up at Rukia whose been by his side the whole time he was fighting, encouraging him to not stop and win.
And now… everything was finally over.
End of Flashback
Ichigo walked downstairs and into the kitchen where he could smell something delicious. There, Rukia was helping Yuzu with their breakfast. Ichigo stopped at the bottom of the steps and smiled, feeling a hint of delight upon seeing the two girls interacting like real sisters.
Wait? Did I just say…'delight'? What am I, some pussy? Ichigo thought as he got out of his trance and sat down on the table.
"Ohayo oniichan!" Yuzu called out with a big smile to show how happy she was seeing her brother again.
"Ohayo," Ichigo replied with his usual smirk.
A small grunt was heard coming down the steps. Karin just woke up and she was hungry. So she joined her brother on the table and waited for her food.
Rukia walked over and placed some bowls of rice on the table. She looked at one of the empty seats and frowned. "Ichigo?"
"Hmm?"
"I was wondering…"
"What?"
"…"
"What is it?"
"…"
Ichigo was getting impatient. "Dammit midget! Just say it?"
Rukia whacked Ichigo on the head with her spoon before continuing. "I was going to ask where your father was!"
The wincing Ichigo rubbed the sore spot and looked around "Dunno. Maybe he stayed at Urahara's."
Rukia shrugged and walked back into the kitchen to help Yuzu carry in rest of the food. The four of them decided that there was no point in waiting for Isshin so they ate. Ichigo liked the fact that he was having breakfast without his father trying to strangle him with every bite.
When breakfast was over, Rukia and Yuzu returned to the kitchen to wash the dishes while Ichigo joined Karin for some T.V.
Karin looked up at her brother and noticed how tried he looked. "What happened?"
Ichigo looked at his sister without much thought. "What did what happen?"
"Your fight," she asked, "The war."
Ichigo gave her a grin. "I'm alive and that's all you have to know."
Karin nodded her head, understanding that her brother didn't want to talk too much about it.
Ring Ring Ring
Rukia, who just finished washing the dishes, reached for her phone in her pocket. "Moshi moshi?"
"Rukia?"
"Renji?"
Ichigo turned around when he heard Renji's name. He mouthed the words 'What is it?' to Rukia but she just shushed him with a wave of her hand.
"Where are you?"
"I'm home."
"…"
"Renji?"
"Home, huh…" There was another pause on the other line. "Well, I just wanted to let you know that some of us are getting ready to leave so you should come here and say 'goodbye.'"
Rukia looked at the clock that was almost 11am. "Sure. Ichigo and I'll be there soon."
"Alright, see you in a bit."
"'kay," Rukia replied before she hung up her phone. She looked up to see Ichigo still looking at her from the couch. "Ichigo, Renji wants us to come to Urahara's store to see some of them back to Soul Society."
Ichigo grunted. "Fine. I'm already dressed so you go hurry up and get ready."
Rukia nodded and ran upstairs. Ichigo went back to the T.V. program with Karin when Yuzu suddenly ran to him.
"Oniichan."
"Hmm?"
Yuzu looked back at the stairs to make sure Rukia wasn't there and pulled both Ichigo and Karin closer to her as she whispered, "Do you think you can get several of Rukia-neesan's friends to come over for dinner tomorrow?"
"Why?"
Karin snorted as she leaned away from the group. "So you really want to do this?"
Yuzu nodded her head with a determined expression.
"What are you two talking about?" Ichigo asked his two sisters.
"Yuzu wants to throw a birthday party for Rukia-neesan tomorrow." Karin replied.
"Why?" Ichigo asked but Yuzu and Karin stared at him with disbelief. "What?"
Yuzu looked up at her brother with teary eyes. "How could you have forgotten that it's Rukia-neesan's birthday tomorrow!"
"What?" Ichigo exclaimed and looked at his watched.
January 13.
"Shit."
Karin shook her head. "You really are dense."
Ichigo mumbled some words under his breath and pouted.
"Anyways, can you help me oniichan?"
The older brother sighed and nodded his head. "I'll go talk to them today. Besides, I doubt Renji and the others are all leaving today."
Yuzu silently cheered and went back to the kitchen to create a dinner list. At that point Rukia came down wearing a light coat over her knee-length dress, both bought with Yuzu a month before the war started.
Ichigo got up from the couch and went to the door, grabbing his jacket at the same time from the hanger. He shoved his feet into his shoes as Rukia stood behind him putting on her boots. Yuzu walked out from the kitchen to see them off.
"Well, we'll be back—WOAH!" Ichigo cried out.
When he opened the door, a body suddenly fell in. He quickly shoved Rukia behind him and Yuzu screamed with fear. Karin just calmly walked to the door to see what was going on.
Ichigo looked carefully at the body and flipped it over to its side, with his foot, to see none other than… Kurosaki Isshin. Still clad in his shinigami attire, he was snoring away with a note stuck on his forehead.
"What does it say?" Rukia asked over his arm.
Ichigo took the note and read it:
Hello minna-san!
Just thought you might want him back. He was snoring so loud yesterday that we decided it would be best to drop him off as soon as possible. Hopefully you get this message soon instead of leaving him out all night!
-Urahara
Ichigo scrunched up the note and tossed it into the garbage. "Whatever. See ya," he called out as he stepped over his snoring father and left the house.
Rukia waved to Yuzu, who waved back, and followed Ichigo to Urahara's store.
"Ne, Ichigo?"
"What?"
Rukia skipped passed him, hands held behind her back. She stopped and turned around to face him with a smile. "Aren't you glad we're back home?"
Ichigo looked at her and smirked. "Why, are you?"
Rukia turned her attention back on the road and slowly walked in front of her friend. "Yup. We can finally go back to a normal life."
"Che, what's so normal about our life?" Ichigo asked. He stopped when Rukia suddenly stopped in front of him. "What's wrong?"
"…"
He waited for an answer but Rukia remained silent. Ichigo walked up and pulled her arm to make her face him. "What?"
Rukia shook her head. "It's nothing," she said as she tired to walk away.
But Ichigo noticed her expression looked hurt. So he yanked harder on her arm to stop her from leaving. "I'm not buying it. Tell me what's wrong or else I'm not letting you go."
"Do you regret meeting me?" She quickly asked, looking at the ground.
Ichigo deepened his scowl. "Why would you think that?"
"Because," Rukia whispered, "Like you said, there's nothing normal about your life, especially after you met me. It would have been better if we had never met… Sorry."
Ichigo scratched the back of his head, a bit annoyed. "Rukia, you misunderstood me."
"Ichigo—"
"Let me finish," he interrupted, "When I said that our life isn't normal, I didn't mean it in a negative way. All I meant was that there aren't people with 'shinigami' as an occupation. But I'm glad that I am one. I'm glad to be different instead of living without the strength to protect those that I care."
Rukia still didn't look at him.
"I have no regret meeting you. If it wasn't for you, my family and friends would be dead by now. I'm grateful to have met you. Do you get it now?"
Rukia let out a long sigh and looked up to meet his amber eyes. "Come on. Let's go before everyone leaves." She turned around and walked the last two blocks to Urahara's store.
Ichigo watched the retreating form of his friend. He really wanted to stab himself with Zangestsu at that moment. Heck, he'd even welcome a blow from Kenpachi. With one last second cursing at himself, he followed Rukia. He stopped when he came up to the front door of the store.
"Oi, Ichigo!"
The orange head turned around and greeted Renji who was standing around with several other shinigamis. "Hey. You leaving?"
"Nope," Renji replied, "At least not today. Why? Were you going to cry if I did leave?"
Ichigo glared at him. "Shut up jackass. Anyways, come over here, there's something I need to ask you."
Renji walked up with a smirk. "You finally going to ask me out? Sorry but I don't lean that way," he said sarcastically.
Ichigo punched his friend in the face once they were alone by the corner of the store. "Baka. That's not it. I just wanted to know what you and the others are doing tomorrow night."
"Why?" Renji asked, though it was hard to hear him when his hand was holding his bruised nose.
"Well, tomorrow's Rukia's birthday and my sister want to throw her a surprise party. She asked me to invite you and her other friends."
Renji smiled. "Hell'ya we're going! I'll go tell the others!"
Ichigo grabbed Renji's shoulder before he got away. "Don't forget. This is a surprise party, as in Rukia-must-NOT-know-about-it. Got it?"
Renji shrugged his friend's hand off and gave him a thumb's up. "I know, don't worry," he replied and disappeared into the store.
Ichigo sighed as he followed the red head. It was then he noticed that he couldn't see Rukia anywhere. At that moment he saw Hanataro walking by. "Oi! Hanataro!"
The young shinigami jumped up with a start upon hearing his name suddenly. He turned around and wore a wide smile upon seeing the familiar orange head. "Ichigo-san! How are you?"
"I'm fine," Ichigo replied, "By the way, do you know where Rukia is?"
Hanataro looked around the store and stroked his chin. "I think I saw her talking to a seated-shinigami but I wasn't sure who. After that she disappeared."
Ichigo sighed as he rubbed the back of his neck. Damn that midget is making things too hard for me!
Hanataro stared at Ichigo and spoke, "Um, Ichigo-san. Is anything the matter?"
Ichigo shook his head. "No, it's nothing. Thanks."
"No problem—ICHIGO-SAN!"
The orange head snapped into attention upon hearing Hanataro scream out his name. He was about to ask what was wrong when suddenly he was interrupted as somebody pulled his soul out of his body.
"WHAT THE FUCK?"
"Ichigo! Come fight me!" Kenpachi exclaimed as he charged towards the startled Ichigo.
"Kuchiki Rukia."
Rukia bowed to the old man standing in front of her with Kuchiki Byakua, Sajin Komarmura, Retsu Unohana, Jushiro Ukitake, and Hitsugaya Toshiro standing next to him, in the underground training room underneath Urahara's store.
"Hai."
Yamamoto nodded in acknowledgement. "Are you aware as to why I called you down here?" He asked and noticed Rukia shaking her head. "Well, I wanted to ask what your intentions are from now on."
Rukia looked up at the man with perplexity. "I'm afraid I do not understand sir."
Byakuya took a step forward. "We would like to know whether you desire to continue staying here in the human world or come back to Soul Society with the rest of us."
It took a moment for Rukia to process the information. "You mean, I get to decide?"
"Yes," Yamamoto said, "Central 46 has not yet been fully restored so we captains have the right to decide. But we wanted to personally ask you of your desire. Not only did we try to execute you when you were innocent, but we tried several times to pry you way from your friends. But you've forgiven us each time and continued to help us during the war, ensuring our victory. That is why we all decided it would be best for you to decide your own fate."
Rukia averted her eyes from the captains in front of her. What was she to say? Sure she felt honored that these people were willing to let her decide which path she wanted to take but… what did she really want? Stay with her friend when she could leave them to allow them to lead a normal, peaceful life?
Che, what's so normal about our life?
Those words suddenly hit her. Yes, she was the cause of Ichigo's abnormality. If she was to leave him then he would be able to lead an easy life with no shinigami duties. Yes, this would be the right thing to do. Screw the pain it'll give her. It'd be better if Ichigo was happy anyways.
"Yamamoto-sotaicho."
"Yes?"
Rukia took a deep breath as she looked straight into his eyes, "I decided that I'll—"
"Stay home," somebody interrupted.
Rukia turned around to see Renji walking down the ladder.
"What?" she asked him.
Renji walked up to the captains, gave them a bow, and turned to Rukia. "Your home. When I called you earlier you said you were 'home.' I think that should be enough of a reason for you to stay here."
Rukia looked up at him with wide eyes. "I have no idea what you're saying. My home is—"
"Where he is."
Rukia turned around, this time looking at Byakuya who had interrupted. "Niisama?"
Byakuya looked straight into her violet eyes. "Rukia. We will not think any less of you if you decide to stay here, especially with that boy."
Rukia tried to talk but Renji slightly yanked on her shoulder to stop her. "Rukia, don't say something you'll regret later. I know you want to stay here—"
"But—"
"—And don't think for a second that you should leave for the sake of that guy," Renji emphasized, "He never blamed you for anything. For all its worth, he's grateful. So if you leave then expect him to fight through Soul Society again just to get you back."
Rukia looked down at her feet, not sure how to talk back.
Renji took another step forward to face Yamamoto and the others. "Allow me to speak in behalf of Kuchiki Rukia."
Yamamoto nodded.
Renji bowed in appreciation. "She shall remain here in the human world to aid the Shinigami Substitute, Kurosaki Ichigo, and his friends to defend the town of Karakura from Hollows."
Rukia snapped her head up. She couldn't believe what Renji was saying! Continue to stay in Karakura? That would mean Ichigo would have to deal with her when she was the one who brought so much trouble into his life. It would be better if she left…
She was about to talk but Yamamoto raised his hand to shush her.
"I'll shall accept her decision and abide by them," the older man said. He turned around as Ukitake summoned three Hell's Butterflies. Yamamoto, Ukitake, and Komaruma walked into the gates. "Keep up the good work, Kuchiki Rukia," he said before the shoji doors closed.
The others were walking back upstairs but Rukia grabbed Renji's arm and stopped him.
"Why?" she simply asked.
Renji smiled as he pulled his arm out of her grasp. "I did it for you. Because here is your home," he answered and followed the three taichos.
Rukia stood there alone for a few moments. She wasn't sure whether to feel relief or pissed at her friend. Allowing a depressing sigh to escape her lips Rukia slowly made way back to the others.
When she finally came out to the upper world Rukia was shocked to see utter chaos. She slowly made way outside of the shop where several people had gathered.
"What's going on?" Rukia asked Orihme who was sipping tea with Uryuu, Chad, Tatsuki, and several other Shinigamis.
Orhime smiled up at her friend. "Kenpachi-taicho has been chasing after Kurosaki-kun and the rest of the Eleventh Division also got into the game."
Rukia looked up and sure enough there were black blurs running around outside of Urahara's store. Deciding there was nothing else to do Rukia sat next to her friends and watched the battle.
"KENPACHI! ENOUGH ALREADY!" Ichigo yelled out as he blocked another swing of Kenpachi's blade.
"You're just getting weak," he replied back with his usual, deadly grin.
Kenpachi swung his blade from the right and once it was blocked, he quickly chased after Ichigo who was using shunpo to escape the crazed man.
"KEN-CHAN!" Yachiru shouted, jumping on Kenpachi's large back at the same time.
The Sixth Division taicho stopped. "What?"
"Yamamoto-sotaicho wants you to come back to Soul Society right now!" She spoke with a sing-song tone.
"Che," Kenpachi snorted as he swung his zanpakutou away and stood up straight, "That old man always interfere a good fight." Without even looking back at Ichigo Kenpachi summoned two Hell's Butterflies and stepped into the senkaimon.
"What the fuck?" Ichigo whispered, looking dumbfounded as Kenpachi disappeared without another word. Now he was standing alone in the middle of the field looking like an idiot. After recovering from his confusion, Ichigo wrapped up Zangetsu onto his back and stepped back into his body that was safely placed in the corner. The rest of the Eleventh Division still wanted a good fight so they started to pick on the other shinigamis.
Renji walked up to the orange head and smirked. "What the hell was that all about?"
"No idea," Ichigo replied. He stood up and saw Rukia snacking on some cookie and tea with their friends. "Hey Renji."
"What?"
"I gotta go somewhere for a sec. Keep Rukia company and escort her home later."
Renji looked at his friend and asked, "What am I, your slave?"
Ichigo just punched him in the back. "Shut up and just do it."
"Fine," Renji muttered under his breath. Ichigo nodded as he quickly sneaked away from everyone. He walked down the street and rode the bus to the shopping center in Karakura. He went inside and looked at all the stores. He shoved his hands deeper into his pocket and smirked.
"Let's do this."
A/N: What is Ichigo planning? Read the next chapter NOW to find out!
 | Review this Chapter |
No comments:
Post a Comment