tamabonotchi | Soon to be done Fanfic preview B (Reply)

Title: More than Nakama
Fandom: Bleach Ichigo/Rukia (Hinted Rukia/Kaien)
Rating: Teen
Disclaimer: Bleach by Kubo Tite. Spoilers up to recent arc.
Summary: They were nakama. That was always obvious to everyone around them- but he always thought more- but did she? Wasn't he even important enough to know what had happened to her when they went to save Orihime? He had to ask.
Notes: Since the Winter War isn't actually over IMO, I made up the end. Soul Society did win against Aizen, but he was able to flee before they could get him. Other than that it should be all fact.

We are nakama.
But to me, you're more than that.
-

Ichigo stared off in the same direction he could feel Rukia's reiatsu was. They were all relaxing after the harsh Winter War. The fight against Aizen was over now, although he was able to escape at the last minute and was still out there, but everyone needed some rest and time. They were back in Soul Society, which faired well even with damaged buildings and many injured and dead shinigami gone.
Ichigo had recovered well enough to go walking around Sereitei, and the first place he headed for was the Kuchiki mansion, where Rukia was. He could feel her familiar reiatsu as he singled her out from the hundreds of others around, and headed in her direction. She was just fine now, but he could still remember when had felt her reiatsu shrink, and Ulquiorra appearing in front of him.

"...Kuchiki Rukia is dead." Ulquiorra deadpanned, no hint of sadness or even sadistic happiness. Ichigo could feel his heart stop for a moment, just staring at Ulquiorra. He finally managed to open his mouth and speak.

"What... did you say?!" He asked him. He couldn't even comprehend the statement. Rukia... dead?
"She and the Noveno Espada defeated each other. Her body was slashed to pieces, and skewered on a spear. She is no longer among the living." He explained, but Ichigo couldn't believe- wouldn't believe him

"I don't want to anymore of this bullshit. How would you know if you haven't even fought her?!" Ichigo grated out, angry. Rukia wasn't dead- her reiatsu may be small, but she was still alive. And then Ulquiorra explained about the Noveno Espada's ability of sending the image of his opponents to comrades. Ichigo just stared as he explained, speechless. After his explanation was done, Ichigo turned on his heel and started walking- almost running away back where he had came from.

"Where are you going?" He called out.

"To save Rukia."

But he didn't. He didn't save her, again. Byakuya had made it just in time before the other Espada could finish her, and he was the one to save her, again.
He was so happy and relieved when he saw her again.

"Rukia!!" Ichigo yelled. He couldn't help but smiling even larger when he saw the sight of Rukia again, looking just fine. He really wanted to stop and talk to them again- talk to her again.

"Save the reunion for later! Hurry up, and go, Ichigo!" She called back, looking at him with a stern face. He could only look at her small form for a moment before he locked eyes with her, and the message sunk in. That's right- we still have to save Inoue. He stared back, now determined.

"All right."

And they did. Inoue was back. She was so glad to see all of us safe again. Ichigo thought the same thing, and couldn’t help but glance at Rukia, who was happy to see Inoue again also, along with Ishida, Chad, and Renji.
And now, they were all back here, recovering from the war that happened. The sun was bright and a warm breeze past through, but Ichigo felt somewhat anxious.

'Was Rukia really all right? How did a spear pierce her? Why hasn't she told any of us about her fight yet, like we all have?'

He had to find Rukia, and finally ask her the questions. He needed reassurance she was fine, and of course, hearing her tranquil voice and violet eyes staring into his own auburn.
He was in front of the Kuchiki mansion, and he looked up at the great doors. They weren't intimidating to him, since he had beaten the Kuchiki Byakuya- but it made him even more anxious knowing Rukia was even closer. He walked down the wooden floor outside, when a voice called out behind him.
"Ichigo?" Ichigo turned to see Renji behind him, mildly surprised.
"Oh, hey Renji. What are you doing here?" Ichigo asked out of curiosity as he turned to full look at his friend.
"Ah, doing some paperwork for Kuchiki-taicho." Renji explained. He gave Ichigo questioning look.
"Oh- I'm going to see Rukia." Ichigo explained, seeing his look. Renji gave a nod and a wave as he walked on. Ichigo watched him for one moment before turning back forward and continued walking to where Rukia was.
He turned a corner and reached the gardens in the Kuchiki mansion. He looked up at the trees; none ready to bloom until spring. His eyes traveled down until they stopped as he gazed at the back of Rukia, her black hair distinctive even in the back by all the separate strands that would sway from anything.
He could only watch her unmoving figure stand so straight until he snapped out of his daze, and opened his mouth.
"Rukia." Her name rolled off his tongue so easily like every other time he said it. Rukia smoothly turned her head to look over her shoulder, and he could see her face brighten a little seeing the sight of him.
"Ichigo!" She turned around. Ichigo start walked over towards her as he placed his face on. "What are you doing here?"
"I'm allowed to walk around now." Ichigo explained as he got up to in front of her. "... And didn't you say save the reunion for later?" He gave a smirk at her and saw her face change when she remembered back then. Her face softened.
"You're right." She murmured, and looked back up at him with her sharp look. "What is it you want?"
She was right on the point. Ichigo looking away from her look trying to look irritated even with a small smile.
"Ah... I want to ask you something..." Rukia's eyes widened as she looked at him to listen.
"What is it?" She asked, prodding him to ask the question. Ichigo sighed as he dropped the smile. He looked straight at her eyes.
"What happened to you with that fight with that Espada, the Noveno Espada or something." He said it straight out, watching for her reaction. He watched as her faced changed from surprise and shock back to calm.
"I see... Why?" She looked at him wondering why he would ask. He looked at her annoyed.
"Why? You haven't said anything, and I know how close you were to death." Rukia noticed Ichigo's voice turn pained at the last part. She then realized why he had asked.
"I'm fine, aren't I? I didn't actually die." She said as she crossed her slender arms.
"But tell me how you were pierced with a damn spear!" Ichigo retorted impatiently, seeing she was dodging his questions.
"It wasn't a spear, it was a trident." Rukia corrected him, but continued staring at her waiting. Rukia sighed as she stared forward into space, and stayed silent for a moment.
"I had killed Shiba Kaien, my vice-captain. He had been fighting a hollow Aizen had created that infused with a shinigami, which is what happened to Kaien-dono." Rukia said, her face and voice with no emotion, Ichigo had a pained expression on his face. He knew she had killed him- but he never knew he had gotten infused with a hollow- specifically one Aizen had made. Then he remembered something- he had a hollow inside of him. Rukia and everyone accepted him having a hollow and using his powers- she had reacted better than when Inoue first saw him with his mask.

'How could she accept me having a hollow, even before we went to save Inoue when her vice-captain died from being infused with one?'

"Then, after we had split up in Las Noches, I reached this large area, that had a fake sun. I was on a bridge leading to a large building when he appeared. I followed him inside." Rukia continued explaining. Ichigo looked at her intrigued by the mention of the fake sun in Hueco Mundo that had no sunlight.
"He?" Ichigo asked uncertain of who she meant, but he was certain who it was.
"The Noveno Espada." Rukia told him. "But when he took off his mask, he had the head of Kaien-dono." Ichigo could see Rukia's almost dream-like gaze as he leaned against the tree right to him.
"And he greeted me, like Kaien-dono would greet me. He then told me the story of how he was still alive, and was so happy that I was the one to come... Saying he had something important only I could do." Rukia murmured. Ichigo felt a pang inside of him, and he knew what it was.

"And then he cut me with his sword when I was off guard." Rukia said. Ichigo looked at her alarmed.

"What?! Where did he cut you?" He asked. Rukia looked a little surprised at his out burst, but pointed to her cheek.
"He caught my cheek." She said. Ichigo looked at her pale and smooth skin that didn't have a cut or blood anymore. "He told me, he should kill me since I was the one who killed him." Rukia went on, as she looked forward. "And then he asked me if I wanted to die to repent for killing him." Rukia said. Ichigo's eyes widened as he looked at her.
"What did you tell him?" Ichigo hesitated asking the question.

'Would she really say...?'

"I said yes." Rukia stated simply, not seeing Ichigo's shocked pained expression.

I really don't want to upload this on Fanfiction.net until I revise it on a computer and not a mac, specifically my new laptop. But again, I thought I would have it by yesterday, and again, Chris wasn't at work so my mom didn't know if he was done testing it or anything. So I'll have to go the long weekend which I probably could've used to transfer my files to it and download all the programs.