Bleach Fan Fiction ❯ Beneath You ❯ Futile ( Chapter 8 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

AN: Here is another installment of Beneath You, which was brought to you rather quickly in comparison to my usual updating patterns. That is mostly because I have renewed spirit in this story and I really want to get my ideas out. So without further ado, here is Chapter Eight!

Matsumoto bit into another cookie. Chewing thoughtfully, she said, "wow... that is absolutely crazy. I can't believe that Captain Ukitake would say that. He practically challenged Junichi!"

"He did," Rukia agreed, sitting next to Matsumoto at the kitchen table. She popped open the tub of chocolate ice cream and dug in with her spoon. "And I don't know what I'm going to do. I don't want the two of them to fight anymore, so now I have to find a way to tell Junichi that I don't want him so that he'll actually understand."

Matsumoto shook her head, her soft curls bouncing on her shoulders. "No, I don't think that's it. I'm perfectly convinced that Junichi understood what you told him. I don't see how you can be more clear."

"Then what's the problem with him? Why won't he just accept it and move on?"

"Because he knows who he lost to. He's probably not letting you go because he thinks that he's more valuable and desirable than Captain Ukitake. That's the only thing that would be make sense aside from the notion that he might be a stalker or something."

Rukia sighed as she shoveled another spoonful of the frozen treat into her mouth. "I just want all of this to be over. I want me and Jyuushiro to be happy together and --"

"Jyuushiro?" Matsumoto cooed. "Since when are you calling him that?"

"Since he asked me to... or at least when we're alone."

"Hmm... sounds sexy."

Rukia rolled her eyes. "You think that everything sounds sexy. But what am I supposed to do about my situation?"

"Heck if I know," she shrugged, standing and dropping her plate littered with crumbs into the sink. "I think that you should lay low for a day or two. Let the both of them get over their argument; maybe things will cool a bit so you can deal with it better."

"You're right," Rukia smiled up at her friend. "Just lay low... I can do that."

"Good. Now leave; Hisagi will be here soon."

"Should have known."




"Alright everyone, I guess we should all get started now. I don't know where Captain Ukitake is, but I'm sure he'll be here soon," Rukia said, tapping her pen on her clipboard. She took a final sweep of the courtyard for any sign of her superior, then sent her squad to work.

A while after the training session began, she paused in her jotting of notes and looked around again. She could feel eyes on her; staring and piercing into her concentration. She continued to scan until she saw him. Junichi was staring at her, his sword gripped tightly in his hand. He looked angry, like he wanted to slice someone in half with his blade. It unnerved her; she didn't like his expression.

"Lieutenant," another shinigami called to her, pulling her gaze away from Junichi. "How much longer are we going to train? We have to patrol the districts soon."

"Oh," she said, nodding absently. "Well... then we can stop now. I don't want to keep you too long."

"Thank you Lieutenant."




"Can I come in?"

"Sure."

Rukia slid the door open and stepped inside. Her Captain had his back to her; he was gazing out the window thoughtfully, with a warm cup of tea in his hand. "Why weren't you at the training session today?"

He didn't turn. "I didn't think I was needed. I figured you had everything under control."

Her mouth fell open. How could he say that? Was he mad at her too? "Why would you think that? Of course we need you; you're the Captain... this has nothing to do with last night, right?"

He said nothing, but did turn to look at her. "No."

She gave him a skeptical look. She wasn't sure if he was telling the truth or not. She figured not. "Look, I'm sorry about last night. I didn't think it was important to tell you about Junichi because I thought I was done with him. I wanted to be done with him."

"Okay."

She was beginning to become frustrated with him. He did not seem to believe her. "Listen, I don't know what else to say to you. I didn't plan for all this to happen."

He looked up at her. His eyes hardened. "What did you plan? That guy was coming on to you, and you still decided to go out with me. I don't know what you were thinking, but you can't have it both ways."

"I don't want it both ways. I want you."

He lowered his eyes and nodded slowly. After a moment, his eyes rose to her again. "Then get rid of him. For good this time."




Rukia sat in her room, swirling her juice around in her glass, looking out the window. She took a sip, and continued to watch the passing shinigami who walked through the courtyard. Sometimes she liked to sit on her sill, just watching the activity down below, not looking at anyone in particular. But today was different; she was searching for someone. She told him to wait for her in the courtyard until she could get there. He was late.

She hopped down from her perch and set her empty glass on the nightstand. She walked over to the door and slipped on her shoes, then approached the mirror next to the door. She currently wore a frown and felt no immediate reason to change it to a more pleasant expression. Lately she had been under a lot of pressure and stress; sometimes frowns are appropriate. At least that was her story.

Upon exiting her room, she went into the kitchen and grabbed the bottle of water that rested on the counter. She took a swig, then headed for the front door. "He better be out there. If I have to go and find him, I will not be very nice about it," she mumbled to herself. She turned the doorknob and pulled, and was quite surprised to see him standing there, his fist raised as he was about to knock on the hard wood. "Junichi... what are you doing here?"

"Someone told me that you were looking for me," he said, lowering his hand. "I figured that you would be here."

A quirk of her eyebrow was her only movement. "Well, I was looking for you. I think that maybe we should take a moment to talk. I think that some things need to be cleared up."

It was his turn to freeze. He didn't like the way she said that; he was convinced that he was being 'let go' again. But this time, he would be determined to make her change her mind. "Sure, let's talk."

"Come in," she said, stepping back and allowing him to enter. "Sit down."

He obeyed and scooted over to make room for her. Once she was seated, he decided that he should begin. "I just want to apologize for last night. I didn't mean to upset you. I just didn't like seeing you with... him."

Rukia fidgeted with her bottle. "Do you have anything against our Captain? What did he do to you that makes you hate him so much?"

"He stole you away from me."

"He didn't steal me from you. We mutually have feelings for each other. That's just the way it turned out."

"Why did you go out with me then?"

She lowered her head. She suddenly felt ashamed; both Jyuushiro and Junichi asked her this same question, but it seemed like she couldn't find a satisfactory answer. "I didn't think he felt the same way as I did for him. So I thought that..."

"So... you just used me until he decided to want you?"

Her head snapped up. "No! That's not it at all!"

Angry, he stood up indignantly. "Then he stole you from me!"

She sighed. He just wasn't understanding. She stood as well and peered into his face. "For the last time, he did not steal me from you. It's just that things got a little confusing and --"

But she never got to finish her statement. Junichi had seized her by the arms and pulled her to him, colliding into her lips with his own. Her gasp of shock allowed him to slip his tongue into her mouth, exploring her, tasting her. It took a moment or two for her to push him away, it was almost reluctant. "Rukia," he said through rushed breaths, "I love you. I don't want to be without you. Tell him that you're mine and that I'm willing to fight for you. Make sure he understands that. I will fight for you."

Her eyebrows were sky high at his words. She was in awe at his sudden boldness and spontaneity. Frankly, she was stunned. "Um. I don't know what to say. It sounds like you have your mind made up. But it still doesn't change the fact that we can't be together. Jyuushiro is the one I want."

She prepared herself for his breakdown, but he didn't falter in his tenacity. "You are just confused, I know how you are feeling. I can only imagine how crazy and different this can be for you. But I've never felt like this about anything in my life, and I'm sure that if I can convince you well enough of how much I love you, then you'll forget him and we can be together."

She opened her mouth to say something, but once again was denied speech. He released his hold on her and placed a kiss on her cheek, smiling into her face. He retreated toward the door whistling a happy tune. He waved goodbye then disappeared. Her mouth was still open, but then she realized that she wasn't denied speech... she was speechless.


AN: He just doesn't seem to grasp what she is telling him! How could this get any worse? It won't, will it? Of course it will. I've got this all planned out. I'm actually excited about it. Chapter Nine will be up soon. Review if you like, but they are nice to get once in a while.