The Awakening [Book 2] (Bleach: Ichiruki)

IX

Love.

A conspicuous word with countless meanings, taken in many different forms.

I pondered on that single thought.

Ichigo loves me.

It felt strange. I don't even know who he is.

And yet my heart is pounding violently against my chest.

"You can feel it, can you?" Kotaku spoke softly.

A faint humming in my heart. As if something was fluttering gently.

"What is it?" I asked him.

"You're slowly remembering him. The bond between you and Ichigo is-"

Kotaku was interrupted from his statement when the room was abruptly filled with a freezing atmosphere.

His eyes widened as he suddenly sat up on my bed, gaze focused on the door.

Tatsuo's silhouette stood at the doorway, causing both myself and Kotaku to sit up.

"Kotaku." Tatsuo's voice was dark and threatening.

Kotaku tensed slightly next to me. I placed my hand on his arm, squeezing it gently.

"Yes, Tatsuo?"

"What the hell are you doing in Rukia's room?!"

Uh oh. This isn't gonna end well.

"I told him to come here." I chimed in, not wanting to cause any more trouble than I already had for Kotaku.

Tatsuo was silent at first. I could feel the tension and rage rising in the atmosphere emitting from him.

"Why?!" He snapped.

I frowned. "Because I haven't seen him in a week. I just wanted to make sure he was ok."

"You couldn't have done that in the morning?!"

"Is it a problem?" I rose an eyebrow.

"Rukia, its fine.." Kotaku said, moving off my bed.

"Leave." Tatsuo demanded.

"Already was." Kotaku spoke as he walked right out the door without sneaking a glance back at me.

"Rukia." Tatsuo spoke as I watched his figure approach my bed. I said nothing as he moved on the bed next to me, wrapping his arm around his waist.

"What were you doing?"

His voice was now so gentle; all the harshness and anger gone from it.

"Did you know that Kotaku was being punished for something that wasn't his fault?"

Tatsuo was silent for a moment.

"Yes, I knew."

"You didn't even bother to tell me?!" I snapped, suddenly angry.

"No, because I knew that you would be acting like you are right now."

"Well, obviously!"

"Calm down, Rukia. You should be glad the Queen spared his life."

"Whatever." I sighed, moving away from his hold, crawling to the other side of the huge bed.

I felt the bed shift as he crawled next to me. He flipped my body around so I was now facing him.

"I have a question for you, too." I said.

"Ask away, my love."

"Where were you all week?"