Bleach Fan Fiction ❯ She Will Be Loved ❯ Chapter 5 ( Chapter 5 )

She Will Be Loved

 

By Tituba

 

Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach or any Bleach affiliates.

 

(A/N: Thanks to everyone for all the reviews. I know that everyone is wondering where this story is going so I ask that you be patient. Things will pick up soon, I promise! :D )

 

 

 

 

Chapter 5

 

“Rukia,” Keigo said cheerfully as he munched on a carrot, “You never told us what you were going to do for homecoming.”

 

Rukia's chopsticks dropped onto her lap and she stooped immediately to pick them up, laughing teasingly at her own mishap. Inside, she was screaming and cursing Keigo's insistence.

 

“I don't really know.” She shrugged, digging into her lunchbox and pulling out a rice ball. “I guess I really haven't thought that far ahead.”

 

“But Rukia,” Orihime said as she leaned her head against Ichigo's chest. Ichigo didn't seem to even notice her. “It's only three weeks away!”

 

Rukia placed a smile on top of her grimace and clenched her teeth, “What are you two going to do, Orihime?”

 

Ichigo's eyes flickered over to her and narrowed just a bit. Rukia knew that he could tell she was irritated. He had been with her long enough to know when she was using her false voice. Rukia, however, didn't care.

 

Orihime sighed lovingly and placed a hand on Ichigo's knee, stroking it lightly, “Well, I've already bought my dress—it's a beautiful pink one, it has ruffles and a few frills and it's absolutely gorgeous!—and I told Ichigo that he should probably wear a black tux, because, you know, black goes with everything and he'll just look so good in it! I'm also really hoping that we'll get a limo and go out to eat then go to the dance.” She looked up adoringly at Ichigo. “Right Ichi?”

 

He nodded and mumbled, not saying anything clearly specific.

 

Rukia had to fight not to wrinkle her nose at them.

 

“Hey Ichigo,” Rukia said as they plopped onto the grass, they were in the park, lying on the ground and watching the clouds go by gently. “What do you think high school will be like?”

 

He shrugged next to her and pointed up into the sky, “That one looks like a sword.”

 

She squinted, “No it doesn't, it looks like a bunny.”

 

He rolled his eyes, “You think every cloud looks like a bunny.”

 

“Because they do!”

 

“Whatever.”

She growled at him and twitched her legs, pulling her dress down a bit. “But seriously, what do you think it'll be like?”

 

Ichigo sighed ruefully and shrugged again, “Lots of homework, parties, mean teachers, dances, stuff like that.”

 

“So…” Rukia muttered, “Kind of like middle school but with older kids?”

 

Ichigo shrugged. “I guess so.”

 

“Stop shrugging,” Rukia chastised him, “It's annoying.”

 

“Well excuse me, Miss Princess.” He added snidely.

 

She shifted a bit and kicked him swiftly on the side of his shin. He yelped softly and turned on his side, reaching down to nurse the offending limb.

 

Rukia hadn't even bothered to notice his plight and continued staring up at the sky. “I bet there'll be lots of dances… you know, like homecoming and… and prom!” She giggled lightly and smiled, “I'll make sure to wear a nice dress.”

 

“Maybe it'll be black, like your soul.” Ichigo muttered, coming back into his previous position.

 

Rukia paused softly and considered it, “Well, I like black… so yeah. Maybe a shiny type of black. Or a sexy, slinky, type of black.”

 

“I don't want to think of you in sexy, slinky black.” Ichigo said blandly.

 

“Well that's too bad,” Rukia teased, sticking out her tongue at him, “Because when we get into our senior year and we're allowed to go to those dances, you're going to go with me.”

 

He scowled and turned towards her, “Only the first one.”

 

“Homecoming then,” she said happily, turning to the sky and staring at the clouds. “You'll take me to homecoming in our last year of high school. I'll wear a sexy, slinky, black dress and you'll wear… um…”

 

“A tux.”

 

“Yeah,” Rukia said, “A tux. It'll be black. So we'll match.” She turned on her side to face him and grinned widely. “Deal?” She asked, holding out her small hand.

 

Ichigo turned as well and nodded, a spark of a challenge in his eyes, “Deal.” He took her hand and shook it with his strong fingers.

 

Rukia nodded and turned back to the sky. She pointed upwards. “That looks like a bunny.”

 

“It looks like a three headed monster.”

 

“Does not.”

 

“Does so.”

 

He had promised. They had shaken on it. He had promised and now he was breaking it. Rukia frowned softly and snorted inaudibly. Come to think of it, this was actually the first promise he had ever made to her that he was going to break.

 

Rukia closed her eyes for a moment and thought. When she had her tonsils out and Ichigo promised to come and make sure she ate ice cream instead of cold applesauce… he did. When he promised to teach her how to ride a bike… he did. When she had a cold and wanted the bunny doll she had accidentally left at his house he brought it to her in the pouring rain, careful to stuff the doll under his shirt so it wouldn't get wet. For every time he had made a promise he had kept it.

 

All except one.

 

“So Rukia,” Orihime bubbled, jerking Rukia out of her small reverie. “What are you going to do?”

 

Rukia sighed casually and shrugged, “Oh, I don't know.” She dreaded answering this question. If she said she wasn't going then she'd have to endure countless people attempting to convince her, a couple boys asking her—although she doubted there would be many—and the false sympathies Orihime would bestow upon her.

 

Rukia pursed her lips and ended up shrugging again, she scolded herself inwardly, she always hated it when Ichigo shrugged constantly, she shouldn't do it either. “I'm really not sure. I guess I'll be sure to check with Nii-sama.”

 

Orihime looked horrified. “You mean you don't even have a dress picked out?” Her hands flew to her mouth and she gasped. Rukia would have been mad at her had she not realized that Orihime released Ichigo's arm.

 

Rukia shook her head. Truth be told she hadn't even thought about homecoming since… well, since she and Ichigo made their promise four years ago.

 

“I could sew you one.” Ishida offered kindly. He squinted at Rukia and nodded, apparently pleased with the image that was now coming into his mind. “Yes… see, your height might be a problem with buying a dress so me sewing you one would probably be the best option. Hmmm, I'm thinking… maybe a little black number.” Ishida grinned and Rukia's eyes widened slightly at his intuition. “Yeah, I think that would be great.”

 

She blushed slightly and swallowed almost nervously. “Ah… that's not necessary. I'm still not sure, you know, about homecoming.”

 

“Well you should still go.” Orihime said smiling. She looked up Ichigo and kissed him lightly on the cheek. “Maybe I'll let you dance with Ichigo.” She giggled and her boyfriend looked down. He smiled and kissed her on the top of her head.

 

Rukia felt like crying all over again. But she didn't. She needed to remain just the way she was. Friendly and relaxed.

 

“I'll think about it.” She said, smiling kindly.

 

Lunch ended far too slowly for Rukia's liking. It was sickening to see Orihime and Ichigo being so cuddly towards one another. As Rukia walked towards the doors she sighed. Ichigo had never been that warm towards her. Probably never would be either.

 

Rukia walked home with the rest of her friends, just like any other day, except Rukia was trying to completely avoid Orihime. She was just getting so tired of the dim girls prattle about dresses and bows and limousines. And the color of her dress! Orihime kept going on and on about the lovely pink shade of the fabric. And while Rukia didn't know that much about fashion, she absolutely knew that the pink fabric of Orihime's dress would clash horribly with the auburn of her hair.

 

She walked up her driveway just like always and waved to her friends as they passed by. She greeted Haji as she came into the house, grabbed a small piece of fruit and went to her room to do her homework.

 

Rukia was feeling light today. The fiasco at lunch, which had left her annoyed and dour, was now receding quickly into the back of her mind. She just felt light. She didn't know why but all of the previous hardships of the day seemed to be dissolving in her mind. She didn't feel the need to scrutinize herself before a mirror or cry her eyes out in her bed.

 

Smiling softly she changed out of her school uniform and slipped on her most comfortable dress. It was a tiny number, sky blue and with a scoop neck. There were no frills, no little dressings, nothing completely ostentatious. Rukia smiled at herself in the mirror—for once—and walked calmly out the door.

 

“Hey Haji!” She shouted. Her butler appeared, as usual, from no where, and blinked at her.

 

“Yes, Kuchiki-san?” His eyes scanned her clothes and they crinkled in a smile, “You look lovely.”

 

“Rukia,” she said immediately. “And thank you.” Her cheeks tinted pink. “I'm going to go to the park today.”

 

Haji nodded and didn't ask any questions but told her to pack a tiny umbrella. “It's pretty cloudy outside. We're expecting rain soon.”

 

Rukia nodded and picked up a tiny umbrella from the stand near the door. She waited until Haji left to put it back and walk out of the door.

 

The minute Rukia was outside she drew in a deep breath of fresh air and tilted her face back so her hair fell down her back and a nice breeze tickled her nose. She smiled gently and began to walk down her driveway. Haji let her through the gates and Rukia chuckled lightly as she knew he would see her without an umbrella.

 

She used to go to the park all the time, mostly with Ichigo, they would go down to the soccer fields and watch his younger sister Karin play or have picnics with both his sister. Rukia enjoyed those times. His sisters were like her sisters. She had been around when they were born and had played with them since they were little. They could always tell when something was wrong with her and vice versa. When she and Ichigo first began to sleep together Rukia's visits became less and less until they almost stopped completely. A couple of times Rukia wondered whether or not the twins missed her. She hoped they did.

 

The park was very close to Rukia's spacious house, she only needed to walk about twenty minutes to get there. Rukia smiled when the trees above her blocked the dim sun shining down from the sky and dropped the temperature even further. She couldn't help it, she enjoyed chilly weather and was glad for the upcoming winter. Rukia never liked summer all that much, sure beaches and pool parties and nights with fireworks were fine… it was just the temperatures that irritated her.

 

“During winter,” she muttered to herself, “There's a lot you can put on. But during the summer there's only so much you can take off.”

 

Rukia continued walking down the familiar paths, occasionally hopping over tiny holes or fallen tree branches. She missed this park. She missed just aimlessly walking around, looking at flowers, searching for birds nests, watching five year olds playing soccer, well, attempting to play soccer anyway. But mostly, she missed walking around here with Ichigo. She missed it a lot.

 

She sighed softly and came of the wooded trail, walking into the bright sunlight—which had finally peeped through the darkening clouds. The large expanse of green was laid out before her. She saw children swinging on play-sets off to her left, multiple soccer fields off to the right, and a baseball diamond right in front of her. There was a pavilion used for team parties further in the distance as well as a little patch of trees littered with children climbing trees.

 

Rukia wandered towards the soccer fields, wondering if maybe Karin was playing. The bright colors of the uniforms were lighting up the dull green of the grass, she could see deep purple and light blue. Rukia smiled and walked quickly over towards the bleachers, where screaming soccer mothers and over-enthusiastic fathers were shouting and yelling. Rukia nodded towards them and looked around at the players.

 

Her eyes scanned diligently. She glanced at each of the numbers—remembering that Karin always liked to be number one.

 

“Cause I'm the best!” She told Rukia when she was younger.

 

“That's right.” Rukia laughed and tossed her a soccer ball.

 

Then, Rukia's eyes fell upon a familiar head of shining black hair. A smile formed on her mouth and she leaned forward, elbows on her knees.

 

Karin Kurosaki ran around the playing field, her legs working furiously to pump the ball towards the opposite goal, her hair was flying back and her light blue jersey was billowing in the wind. There was a small smirk on her face, Rukia could see that she was enjoying herself out there on the field, her cleats were scuffing up the brownish grass and the ball she had before her seemed almost to bend to her will. It weaved in between and out of other player's legs until it finally popped into the goal on the other end. Karin threw her hands into and did a tiny victory dance.

 

“Go Karin!” Rukia shouted, standing up on the bleachers and cheering.

 

She saw Karin's head swivel around and search the bleachers. Rukia grinned and raised her hand, waving it in a wide circle in the air. Karin immediately smiled. Rukia was quite surprised; she had never seen Karin with such a smile on her face. She raised her hand and waved back to Rukia.

 

Ten minutes later the referee blew the whistle and signaled the end of the game. Rukia stood immediately and jumped off the bleachers. Her light blue dress fluttered in the comforting breeze as she walked energetically towards the young Kurosaki.

 

“Hey Karin,” she said, her lips forming one of the truest smiles she'd had in ages.

 

“Rukia!” Karin bounded forward and spontaneously hugged the girl before to her. Rukia stumbled just a bit before cautiously hugging her back. Karin's shirt was sticking to her back and she was slightly breathless but that didn't stop her from being excited to see her old friend.

 

“How're you doing, Karin?” Rukia asked, detaching herself from the younger girl, “I saw that shot you made. Man, I'm so glad they let you play on the boys' team.”

 

Karin nodded, “Yeah, me too.” She shrugged nonchalantly and grinned, “But I would have forced them to let me play either way.”

 

Someone from the sidelines called to Karin and she glanced over at them. “Hang on just a sec, okay?” She said to Rukia before turning and rejoining her team. They congratulated each other and she grabbed her water bottle and gym bag from the sidelines. Karin jogged back to Rukia and grinned. “So, what's been happening Rukia?”

 

Rukia shrugged and began following Karin; she was walking towards the pavilion. “Nothing much, school keeps me busy, reading stuff, and just keeping occupied.” She turned to Karin and smiled, “What about you?”

 

She kept walking and bobbed her head from one side to another, “Well, you know, middle school's a shark tank but soccer keeps me busy, boys are stupid, and homework makes my brain hurt.” She turned her face to Rukia and grinned. “The usual.”

 

Rukia tilted her head back and laughed a bit. “Yeah… that'd be you. What about Yuzu, how's she doing?”

 

Karin grinned even wider—it was actually starting to creep Rukia out how much Karin was smiling—and said, “Why don't you ask her yourself. She's waiting with my dopey brother in the pavilion.”

 

Rukia's insides immediately plummeted. Her stomach twisted in nausea. Her heart began to pound a bit more. Her jaw clenched together. Her nails bit into the skin of her palms.

 

Her legs, however, kept on moving. She kept going to the pavilion even though she wanted to stop. She wanted to stop so badly.

 

So badly.

 

“Oi! Ichigo! Yuzu! Look who's here!” Karin shouted into the structure. Rukia's lips twisted into a forced smile the minute she saw Ichigo's bright head of hair. She walked up the tiny hill to get to the pavilion and then saw Yuzu sitting beside him. She was licking the remnants of an ice cream cone from her fingertips and giggling at how good it tasted. She looked so innocent and happy. Rukia's smile inched a bit downwards, she used to be that innocent and happy too.

 

Yuzu looked up at soon as she heard Karin yelling and gasped at the person beside her.

 

“Rukia!” She squealed, leaping off of the wooden bench and rushing forward.

 

“Hi Yuzu,” she said, keeping her head down and her bangs skillfully covering her face.

 

Yuzu launched herself at Rukia and wrapped her hands around the older girl's waist. Karin stood by them smirking goofily. She looked like she wanted to be enjoying herself but wouldn't allow it.

 

“Rukia,” Yuzu cheered, she turned her face up to Rukia and smile toothily. “My goodness, what are you doing here? We hardly ever see you at the park anymore!”

 

Rukia smiled back, even though the clenching sensation was still in her stomach, and said, “I just felt like taking a walk.”

 

“Really?” Yuzu squealed in delight and grasped Rukia's hands. “You must come for dinner Rukia, I mean, it's almost six o'clock, you could come to our house and eat with us and we could—”

 

“Yuzu,” Ichigo's strong voice permeated his sister's tiny rant. She stopped looking at Rukia and turned her head towards her brother. Rukia glanced at him too, only to find him staring right back at her, his eyes hot and cold all at the same time. “She can't, Orihime-chan is coming for dinner and you've only made enough for five.”

 

The pout on Yuzu's face was instantaneous. Rukia took the liberty to glance at Karin and saw that she was scowling too.

 

Immediately, Rukia spoke, trying to console the twins just a bit. “It's not a big deal.” Rukia said, waving her hand casually, “I'm pretty sure Haji's making something special for dinner tonight.”

 

Yuzu looked from Rukia to her brother and whined softly in her throat. “But Ichi-nii! Rukia hasn't been at our house for so long.”

 

“Yeah,” Karin chimed in, crossing her arms across her chest, “Besides, I don't even like Orihime-chan all that much. She's stupid.”

 

Silence filled the pavilion. Ichigo's scowl deepened into a hard frown and Yuzu's cheeks turned a delicate shade of pink. Karin simply stared to the side, her features set in an impenetrable smirk.

 

Rukia coughed lightly and eased her hands from Yuzu's grasp. Her eyes caught Ichigo's fleetingly and she swallowed hard, trying not to think about him and what Karin had just said. God how she wanted him to listen to his sister.

 

So badly.

 

Swiftly, Rukia glanced at her watch and gasped theatrically, Yuzu and Karin snapped their heads to her and they furrowed their brows.

 

“Is that what time it is?” She cried, tapping her watch for dramatic effect. She turned to Karin and Yuzu and made her eyes go wide. “I forgot! Nii-sama paid my French tutor to come today and give me a test on the conditional.” She turned to the side and hopped down from the pavilion. “I'm so sorry, you guys. But don't worry, I'll come by another time. I really will!”

 

She turned her back and ran towards the soccer fields, turning around once to wave goodbye once again to the twins, she saw them wave back energetically, they were calling for her, telling her `bye!' and `see you soon!'

 

Rukia blinked as she turned back and began bolting down the path. The only one who didn't wave back to her was the one person she cared the most about.