The Awakening [Book 2] (Bleach: Ichiruki)

VIII

Rukia Kuchiki

An entire week had passed since the incident. And I still couldn't get the man's face out of my head.

Ichigo. That's what they had called him.

I didn't even know him. But I knew he knew me somehow.

That sad gleam in his eyes whenever he had looked at me. The desperation in his expression. I must be someone special to him.

And it wasn't just him either. There were a few others who looked at me like that.

But this man, this Ichigo, caused something to stir inside my heart.

I started noticing it just a week ago.

Whenever Tatsuo kissed me, it felt like a bit of my consciousness was being sucked out of me. I held onto the face of Ichigo every single time; it was as if every time he would kiss me, I would suddenly forget the man in my dreams.

Tatsuo noticed it too.

I was growing distant. I didn't show him the same love and affection the way I had before this incident. Hell, I still loved him like crazy, I would give my life for him. But something felt off. Like I was missing something about Tatsuo; like there was something I still didn't know about him.

And the way Ichigo interacted with him meant that they knew each other; and not in a good way.

My head was telling me to not worry about a thing; Arachne will fix everything.

But my heart was resisting. Deep down, I knew my life was in danger. But I couldn't make a move to abide against them; either way I was dead.

I needed to see Ichigo again.

I sat up in bed, about to crawl off before I heard the creak of my bedroom door opening. I froze in my position, as footsteps approached my bed.

"What are you doing?" Kotaku's familiar and calming voice filled the room. I released the breath I hadn't realized I was holding in, turning to I could see his face in the dimly lit room.

"I should be asking you that. You aren't supposed to be in my room at this time of night."

"Actually, its morning."

I flashed him a glare. "Not the point."

Kotaku gave me a small smile, crawling into my bed and laying down next to me.

"Why haven't you come to see me all week?" I asked, looking down at his relaxed expression.

He didn't speak at first, but instead continued to gaze at the canopy draped over my bed. I decided to lay next to him, as he pulled his arm out for me to rest my head on.

"Would you rather have the truth or the lie?" He finally spoke, his voice thick with sorrow.

I frowned. Did something happen to him?

"The truth."

"Arachne punished me for sending you to the human world, where she was, without her compliance."

My eyes widened in dismay, heart lurching in anger.

"She punished you for a week straight?! That wasn't even your fault!"

"Not a week straight. I had the week to recover from my punishment. And yes, it was."

I managed to control the anger boiling within me.

A week to recover from his punishment.

What Kotaku did-- it wasn't even a big problem! I am still here, in one piece, and Arachne still made a huge deal over his actions!