Second Chances
Love was when I loved you
One true time I hold to
In my life we'll always go on
Near, far, wherever you are
I believe that the heart does go on
Once more you open the door
And you're here in my heart
And my heart will go on and on
You're here, there's nothing I fear
And I know that my heart will go on
We'll stay forever this way
You are safe in my heart
And my heart will go on and on
-My Heart Will Go On by Celine Dion
"Hi,"
His voice was soft, almost inaudible. But she heard it.
"Hi yourself," Rukia shot back playfully. She was in a pretty good mood despite the fact she was nearly murdered by her now dead stepfather.
"Is this gonna go on forever?" Ichigo asked tiredly. The orange-haired teen had been stressing for almost three days, with absolutely NO sleep. Who WOULDN'T be tired?
She laughed. "Maybe..." She giggled.
There was a moment of silence, and then she started humming a little. Soon, she was singing.
"Nobody knows who I really am, I never thought I could feel this way towards you, and if I ever need someone to come along, I will follow you, and keep you strong." Her voice was firm, but angelic.
"We are all rowing the boat of fate, the waves keep on coming and we can't escape. And if we ever get lost on our way, I will follow you to another day." Ichigo sang with her, smiling a little.
Their eyes locked.
And then, driven by pure instinct, she leaned in and kissed him. Ichigo's eyes widened. Never, in his wildest dreams had he ever thought Rukia Kuchiki would be kissing him. Ichigo Kurosaki.
...Okay, maybe in his wildest dreams, but he never thought it would feel like this. Her peach-colored lips were as soft as sakura petals, and she tasted so sweet.
Almost like strawberries.
"ICHIGO! MY SON!"
Ichigo quickly broke away from Rukia, and jumped away to avoid being tackled to the ground by his father. Isshin landed against the wall, head-first. He immediately stood up, acting as if he didn't just land against a hard, hospital wall.
"MY SON IS FINALLY A MAN! MASAKI! WE'RE FINALLY GOING TO GET GRANDCHILDREN!" He bellowed, and hugged Rukia.
"Oh, Rukia-chan, how can I ever thank you? You brought my idiot son out of his depression, and into the- OW!" Isshin cursed as Ichigo punched him, sending the older Kurosaki to the ground.
"DAD! Shut up! Did you forget that this is a hospital!" Ichigo shrieked- Yes, shrieked,- and promptly threw his kooky dad out of the room.
"Sorry about that," Ichigo apologized, smiling sheepishly. Rukia smiled weakly at him, not at all pleased their moment was interrupted.
"Its alright, your father doesn't seem to have changed." She laughed a real, genuine laugh.
He cracked a smile.
They were silent for a while, and then Ichigo sighed. "I should get going; I'll see you again tomorrow," He waved her off, still a little flustered by there interrupted kiss, and walked out.
As soon as the door shut, Rukia groaned softly and her head landed on the hospital pillow.
We really... Kissed. She subconsciously touched her lips, and sighed contentedly.
"I love him. I love Ichigo Kurosaki." She whispered to herself, giggling.
"I love Ichigo!" She said again, louder this time.
She must have sounded crazy, repeating the sentence over and over again. But she didn't care, she was a girl in love.
A girl who was completely, head-over-heels, in love.
"I love Ichigo!"
The words rang in his head. Ichigo smiled.
She loved him back.
The nineteen-year old turned swiftly, and came face-to-face with a man who had black hair, and dark purple eyes.
"Ichigo-kun."
"I have one more thing to ask, Shirou."
Her voice echoed inside his head, plauging his memories.
"T-Tell her, I'm sorry. Sorry I couldn't be there to help. Sorry I couldn't protect her."
"No, Mitsuki." He whispered, kicking a stone. "I just can't."
Her voice seemed to echo once more, being carried by the sighing wind.
"Why?"
He sighs again. He's delusional, he decides, and breathes in the warm, July breeze. "I just can't, okay? She reminds me too much of you, you crazy bitch." He says it arrogantly, but there is pain behind his words.
Sorrow, he decides.
Loneliness.
Heart-wrenching, bitter failure.
The wind stops blowing.
He stops talking to himself, and smiles.
It felt like his first in a long, long time...
"You're... Rukia's father?" Ichigo asked uncertainly.
Roka nodded. "Yeah... I know what you're thinking; Where has he been all these years?"
Ichigo nodded. "Yeah. Where have you been? Do you have any idea how much she suffered?" Ichigo asked softly, but with a glare that could kill. "Do you know how much it hurts her every time anyone mentions her family? Especially her father?" His voice got louder with each word, and his glare grew with each syllable.
Roka sighed, unable to say anything at that particular moment.
"I can explain."
"Do you really have to go?" Tatsuki asked, somewhat sadly. "You haven't even seen Rukia yet! At least stay the night! Renji, its almost three in the morning, don't be ridiculous." She tried to be reasonable with the man in front of her.
Renji sighed. "Sorry, Tatsuki. I have to go." Without thinking, he leaned forward and kissed her lightly. He quickly got into his car before she could say another word.
"We'll keep in touch," He said softly, handing her a piece of paper.
And just like that, he was gone.
"So... She just left you? It wasn't your fault?"
"Hey! I'm not that Kaitou guy- I actually have a heart." Roka laughed at Ichigo's apologetic face.
Ichigo sighed. "Are you going to see her?" Roka nodded. "Yeah... I'm gonna stop by again tomorrow night, after I clear some things up at the hospital." Ichigo nodded in understanding. "Okay. G'night.'' He murmured as Roka stood up.
"You're not leaving? It's almost three AM, and you wanna stay?"
Ichigo nodded, a wistful look in his eyes. "Yeah..." He heard the light footsteps of Roka fade away, and then all was silent, the only noise coming from the typing nurse at the reception desk. He was still for a few moments, then quickly stood, striding over to Rukia's door.
Inside, Rukia was sleeping soundly. He pulled up a chair, and sat down next to her. "You know, you scared the living shit outta me." He started, smiling slightly. "Don't you dare do that to me again, I almost had a heart attack when I found you like that, barely breathing. Come to think of it, I was terrified when I found you in the alley, when you ran away, and when Kaitou tried to kill you the first time." He chuckled darkly and brushed some hair from her face.
That night, Ichigo fell asleep to the sound of Rukia's heavy breathing.
Ichigo's eyes opened slowly.
"Heh, about time you woke up, Strawberry-baka." Rukia scoffed, pushing his head off of her bed. He landed with a 'thump', falling out of his seat.
"What time is it?" He groaned, standing up. Damn, his neck hurt. Never again was he going to sleep hunched over on a chair. "Almost two." Rukia responded. "I woke up around seven this morning." She yawned. "You know, you could probably sleep through a train plowing through your room."
Knock-Knock.
"Come in," Rukia called. "The dummy's awake!"
"Hey!"
Unohana gracefully strode in, smiling warmly. "Hello," She smiled at the two teens. "Hitsugaya-san just came to see how you were doing."
Moments later, Toshirou stepped in, hands stuffed in his pockets. He looked at Unohana.
"Ah- Kurosaki-kun? Why don't we step outside for a moment? S-Senna-chan wants to speak with you." Unohana said, trying to give Toshirou and Rukia some privacy. Ichigo nodded confusedly. "Okay..." He said, following Unohana out.
As soon as they left, Rukia looked to Toshirou. "Hitsugaya-san?"
He sighed. "Here." He said, handing her a worn out, old, slightly torn piece of paper. "Its from Mitsuki." It was the letter. Inoue had given it back to him after Mitsuki's funeral, saying she couldn't give it to Rukia. Toshirou had accepted the letter, saying he would give it to her. Eventually.
He never did.
It took her three minutes to read the entire thing, and when she finished, she was almost sobbing. "I forgive you..." She whispered, smiling slightly. "Thank you, so much, Hitsugaya-san."
And for once, Toshirou shook his head. "No. No 'Hitsugaya'. Call me Toshirou."
[8:31 PM]
Ichigo smiled.
Roka had finally made it.
"So... After tonight, what do you plan on doing?"
Roka sighed. "Rukia's a grown woman now. She's not some three year old girl who needs to be looked after every second. After tonight, I plan on going back to Kyoto, but still keep in touch with her. Orihime-chan's planning on sticking around Karakura for another year or so, so it should be pretty easy. Her cousin Yumi works for me, and so does Senna."
Ichigo nodded in understanding.
They stopped at Rukia's door. "Call me when you're finished." He said quickly, and walked away.
"Hello, Rukia."
Rukia looked confused. Who was this man? "H-Hello?" She stuttered, a little confused. Where was Ichigo? "Um... I'm sorry, but do I know you?" Roka smiled.
"Yes. You do. My name is Roka Kusaka. Rukia, I'm your father!"
Rukia just stared at the man as her hands started to shake. Roka noticed this and started. "R-Rukia, I understand if you're mad at me, but..." She suddenly hugged him. "I'm not mad..."
"I'm happy."
"How long did you know he was my father?" Rukia asked Ichigo that night, smiling.
"Ever since you got admitted." Ichigo said quietly, sitting next to Rukia.
"I see."
"Ichigo?" She asked after a moment of silence. "Hm?" He answered back, looking at her.
"Thank you." She kissed him lightly.
"No problem," He smirked when they pulled apart.
Everything was peacful.
A/N: Next up is the epilouge, which has an unexpected visit from some VERY special characters! It takes place about two years in the future.
You'll like it, I promise!
But, ITS REALLY SHORT!
PLEASE REVIEW!
-TMU
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