A/N: Sorry, no Valentine's special here :/
"Being late always has repercussions..." ~ Anonymous
Chapter 3
"Ugh, this so not gonna be fun..." mumbled Rukia.
The young Kuchiki impatiently tapped her foot on the ground and turned to look at the huge clock next to the lifeguard's chair.
The boys were late. Really late.
Her violet eyes swept over the area by the pool deck for the umpteenth time in the last thirty minutes and she wasn't the least bit surprised when she saw no sign of ridiculously orange or crimson hair.
The ship had departed a while ago after a greeting from the ship's captain whose voice seemed vaguely familiar and now she was really eager to have a look around.
But until Renji and Ichigo arrived, she was stuck waiting by the side railings with the others. When they did come, she was going to give them a piece of her mind for making everyone wait so long...
Why couldn't they just be on time? Orihime and Ishida seemed to have no problem with being punctual.
She glanced at the said two from the corner of her eye and noticed that they had momentarily stopped playing a strange human game known as I Spy and were currently looking at the vast blue ocean surrounding the cruiser on all sides, their hands held up to shield their eyes from the bright sun.
It was late afternoon and the sun showed no sign of setting yet by defiantly glinting off the ocean and staring them in the face. Rukia blinked as the glare momentarily blinded her.
Too bad Sado hadn't been invited to the mission via cruise invitation. Had he been here, his tall shadow would have helped provide some shade and she'd have been able to see clearly.
People were still a bit wary when the topic of Fullbringers came up...
Raising a hand to point back at the Japanese mainland which was no more than a receding speck on the horizon, Orihime turned to her and smiled. "Kuchiki-san, come enjoy the view with us. The land is really far away now and there's nothing but the ocean around us...It's so beautiful!"
Rukia had to grin.
The girl was always so cheerful and her excitement was contagious. "Of course Orihime. But as soon as Ichigo and Renji arrive, we'll go exploring like we planned."
Preparing to speak, Uryū cleared his throat. "We should probably be setting off if they don't arrive soon. This ship may look like a jumbo version of the legendary Titanic from the outside, but it's interior couldn't be any more different. There's so much to see and we just can't afford to waste any time waiting around like this."
He noticed Rukia and Orihime peering at him curiously and decided to elaborate, delicately pushing his glasses onto the bridge of his nose as he began to speak.
"Both of you already know that this magnificent cruise liner was built by a partnership between the Urahara Shop and the 12th Division. As a result, it is thoroughly fitted with the latest designs and technologies from both worlds, but still manages to hold on to the romantic charm retained by the original Titanic," he quoted.
Orihime's eyes took on a wistful look and Rukia nodded.
"Most of the staff are unseated members of the Gotei 13 and they offer the finest services to everyone onboard this floating paradise. Some of this ship's many attractions include a water park, golf course, luxury spas, multiple pools, a fitness center, cinemas, a miniature zoo and amusement park, various plazas and shopping centers, a library which I fully intend to visit, nightclubs, a grand ballroom, casinos, an Olympic-sized ice skating rink—"
He broke off as Rukia gasped, her violet eyes widening in amazement. "Really?" she questioned, unable to disguise the trace of awe that had crept into her voice.
Orihime let out a little giggle.
"Of course Kuchiki-san! It must be true if Ishida-kun said it, afterall I distinctly remember him reading and strangely enough, stitching a book cover for the guidebook while we were waiting back at the docks. It was pink!"
"I'll have you know that sewing is a perfectly normal and manly thing to do while waiting," defended Uryū, slightly insulted at his beloved habit of stitching being called strange.
In his opinion, sewing was a common pastime for the average seventeen year old male…
Turning back to Rukia who was gazing up at him expectantly for an answer, he sighed and nodded.
"Yes, there is indeed an ice rink here and before you interrupt me again, I'd like to inform you that there is even a small snow-park of sorts where you can go skiing and snowboarding and perform other snow-related activities."
Rukia blinked and took a few seconds to process what she had just heard. If she understood correctly, Ishida just described what would be a whole winter wonderland somewhere onboard the cruise liner.
No way…
"Alright!" she yelled, excitedly pumping a fist in the air as Orihime and Uryū lept back in surprise. Pointedly ignoring the strange looks a group of passing Arrancars sent her way, Rukia fervently resumed her search for Ichigo and Renji and was delighted when a few minutes later, Orihime saw Ichigo coming their way.
"Kurosaki-kun, we're over here!", called the young healer, enthusiastically waving her hand over her head so he could spot them.
Stepping around a deck chair and over a wet towel someone had left behind, Ichigo made his way over to them and found himself greeted by a disgruntled yet secretly giddy Rukia.
Rukia was happy.
If Ichigo was finally here, Renji wouldn't be too far behind and as soon he arrived, they'd set out to explore everything, especially the snow park.
"You sure took your sweet time getting here, Ichigo. Why is that?" she asked coolly, disguising her excitement with little effort.
Ichigo scowled and raised a hand up to scratch his head in irritation. "I was unconscious for the second time today on account of one of my roommates beating me up."
"Beating you up?" questioned Uryū. "Honestly Ichigo, do you have to fight with every single person who has the bad luck to cross your path?"
Orihime nodded furiously. "Ishida-kun is right, Kurosaki-kun. It's not good for your health."
"It's not my fault my roommate is a jerk!"
Rukia who had been looking around for Renji, turned back to Ichigo in exasperation. "Just who exactly is your roommate Ichigo? I thought you and Renji were in the same cabin…"
"Yeah, I am with him but our third roommate is fucking Grimmjow," he replied through gritted teeth.
"Language, Kurosaki..." muttered Uryū.
Rukia let out a snort.
"Pssht! Be thankful that he's nothing compared to my roommates. I'm stuck with Captain Suì-Fēng, and worst of all, the third Espada, Tier Harribel." She shuddered. "Imagine how I felt with them staring, no glaring at me as I walked in."
"You're right, it certainly does suck for you," he realized. The person who created the rooming assignments was one sadistic individual. "Why don't you go tell Byakuya? Your brother is some big-ass noble after all so I'm pretty sure he could pull a few strings for you and—"
Noticing her glare, he stopped before she could punch him again.
Uryū shook his head. "Wow Ichigo, you're certainly suicidal today. You should know better than going around bad mouthing nobles."
"Whatever," replied the Substitute Shinigami, rolling his brown eyes.
"Look! Renji's coming!" interrupted Rukia, her voice filled with glee, all thoughts of defending her brother's honor vanishing as she pointed at the red-haired figure who was coming their way.
As she began dancing in excitement like a crazed lunatic, Rukia felt Ichigo's gaze on her and turned around to look at him, her right eyebrow raised delicately as if daring him to ask what was wrong with her.
Of course, the orange-haired fool had to open his big mouth and crush her into the ground, figuratively speaking of course. "That is most definitely not Renji. Ya sure you're feeling okay?"
Rubbing her eyes, she looked closely and her shoulders immediately slumped in disappointment as the redhead passed by. Unless Renji had somehow transformed into an Arrancar with pink hair, Ichigo was right and he still hadn't arrived yet.
Great. And to top it all, she was now seeing things. The sun was probably getting to her…
Sighing, Rukia tiredly resumed her search for him, her eyes glancing over all the Shinigami and Arrancars who were happily relaxing and swimming nearby in the huge pool.
As she kept looking around, Ichigo joined Uryū and Orihime by the side railings and together the two males watched and laughed as Orihime began pointing out strangely shaped clouds.
"See! That one looks like a flying hippo with a unicorn on its back. And, oh! That big one there is like a huge elephant eating a taco, you know those delicious Mexican thingies that Sado-kun got us once..."
This went on for about another twenty minutes and with each passing moment, Rukia's irritation increased. How dare Renji have the audacity to say he'd come and then not show up? They'd waited for him too long and now enough was enough.
Turning back, Rukia tapped Orihime's shoulder to inform her that she'd decided that they would be leaving and frowned when Orihime's delicate brows scrunched together in concentration. "Wow Kuchiki-san, your eyesight is amazing! I can't believe you can see him coming from so far away in all this sun!" she praised as she squinted to see clearly.
Confused, Rukia spun around to see what she was talking about and spotted a figure that looked vaguely like Renji walking in their direction.
As it became clear that it was indeed Renji, she straightened up as Orihime enthusiastically began waving even though Renji had already spotted them.
"Over here, Abarai-kun!"
At last they could stop standing out in the dreaded sun and go exploring like they had intended to about an hour or two ago. Renji would pay...
Raising a hand in greeting, Renji came to a stop if from of them and noticed the four pairs of displeased eyes glaring at him. "What?" he asked, remaining completely oblivious to exactly how long he made everyone wait.
Uryū's glasses glinted. "You do realize how late you are, don't you Abarai?"
"Oh, I was just getting a snack," he defended, holding up a brown bag as an alibi. "There're so many cool restaurants here and this one cute chick was handing out samples of this strange snack. Since I was hungry, I decided to get some. They're freshly baked, really colorful, and best of all, free," he described happily.
Ichigo curiously eyed the loopy lettering covering the small bag. "What is it?" he asked.
Bringing the bag closer to his face, Renji sniffed at it and let out a sigh. "I have no idea, but whatever it is, it smells really good. She said they were called cookies or something."
Rukia's eyes narrowed. "I see how it is..." she muttered darkly.
He froze, finally noticing her and her glare. "Uh, you okay Rukia?"
Ichigo face-palmed.
Rukia fumed. "Seriously? You left us, waiting out in the sun for a whole damn hour, just so you could talk up some girl to get a snack...How okay do you think I am?!"
Swallowing nervously, Renji managed to look sheepish. "S-Sorry?"
The killing intent began rolling off her in waves.
Meekly, he held out the bag of cookies as an offering. Everyone watched with bated breath as Rukia eyed the bag and then glanced back at a now whimpering Renji.
There was a battle raging inside her mind. Should she accept the cookies along with Renji's apology or punch him into oblivion? Her bloodthirsty side was tempted towards the latter, but on the other hand, cookies tasted so good.
Yet Renji had made them wait. Payback. Or a bag of cookies. Pain. Or a bag of cookies. Suffering. Or a bag of cookies. Cookies. Beautiful, tasty cookies...
As the delectable smell of freshly-baked deliciousness wafted towards her nose, Rukia made her decision.
She took the cookies. The others let out a relieved sigh.
"Phew," said Orihime, as she let out a nervous laugh. "You didn't look too happy for second there, Kuchiki-san. I was worried..."
The bag in Rukia's hands crackled as she opened it. "Don't fret about it," she reassured smiling brightly. "I'm perfectly fine!"
She held out out a rainbow chocolate-chip cookie to Orihime whose eyes sparkled as she took it.
"Thanks Kuchiki-san!"
"No worries." Taking two for herself, Rukia passed the bag along to Uryū who in turn took a cookie with a handkerchief and moved to hand the cookie bag to Ichigo. Just as Ichigo's fingers wrapped around the bag, he found it wrenched violently from his grasp.
Renji clutched the bag possessively to his chest. "I sure as hell ain't sharing any with Ichigo!"
"What?!" questioned Ichigo.
Rukia now happily munching on a cookie, peered at them curiously while Uryū tsked and shook his head. "Oh boy. Here they go again..."
"I said I'm not giving you any."
"Why the hell not? You shared with everyone else!"
"Just because!"
"Oh, I get it now," muttered Ichigo as he began snickering. "You're just jealous that I got the better bed while you're stuck with a piece of crap."
"Am not!" defended Renji.
"Are too!" he shot back. Noticing Renji grit his teeth in frustration, Ichigo took the oppurtunity to snatch back the bag of cookies and proceed to rip it open till he held up a single cookie. "There! The last one's mine now!"
"Hey!"
"You're behaving like a child, Abarai," remarked Uryū. "Stop this foolishness. The two of you can just split it."
"That's only because he took my food!" justified Renji as he pushed Ichigo to the edge while trying to grab the small cookie.
Using one hand to keep Renji away from him, Ichigo held the cookie as far away as he could. Renji had the advantage of being taller but with Ichigo's foot in his stomach, his fingers only managed to graze the now crumbling cookie.
Frustrated, Renji made a violent tackle for the bag and smiled when he managed to grab it.
Unfortuantely for him, he hadn't thought his jump through...In a rush to seize the cookie, Renji had lept straight overboard.
"I'm gonna die!" he yelled as he felt himself start to fall. At the last second he felt someone grab his leg. He looked upwards at his saviour. "Ichigo!"
"What the hell did ya do that for you idiot?!" asked Ichigo in a strained voice as he held his ankle."Don't do crazy stunts for a cookie!"
"Take your own advice," Rukia added as she held Ichigo by his leg. "Don't just jump out."
Renji couldn't help but whimper in fear as the wind gently ruffled his hair. "Just pull me back up, why don't you," he called weakly.
Ishida and Orihime began helping Rukia haul the boys up, but a cry from Ichigo made them stop short.
"I'm losing my grip!"
"No!" yelled Renji, but it was too late. He began falling again. And this time no one was able to catch him.
As the ocean rushed to meet him, he managed to hear Rukia's screams that he couldn't swim. With a deafening noise, the waves engulfed him. As everything started going black, Renji smiled. There was still half a cookie crushed in his hands.
Oh boy was he hungry.
A/N: Voting continues...
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