Suddenly

Part One: Reality

Groaning weakly, Rukia put the back of her hand to her forehead. The throbbing pain was nearly unbearable, and the circular motion she now used against her temples did little to help. She stared up toward the stark white ceiling inside of Ichigo's closet, basking in the darkness it permitted until she slid the door open. That was something she was not looking forward to. "This gigai must be defected," she mumbled, instantly regretting it as the sound of her own voice made her eardrums vibrate inside of her headache.

She'd had a lot of problems with the fake body recently, and she'd have to see Urahara about it. Leave it to the dirty pervert to find the cheap way out and given her a bad gigai. Hell, he'd done it before...

Shaking her head and trying not to think about unpleasant times such as her execution, she reluctantly sat up on the makeshift bed. Taking a mental breath, her slender fingers swept across the door, sliding it open. Instantly, light attacked her vision and she recoiled slightly into the back of the closet. As the obnoxious pain started to alleviate, she draped her legs over the side of the small cot and hopped down onto the floor. Yet another day.

Quickly dressing into the school uniform, she jumped out of the window and slid down the angled shingles, landing on the moist grass with a graceful thud. She imagined Ichigo would already be at school; he had left early for some reason, and was noisy about it, too. Something about schoolwork and whatnot.

Many people flooded the streets as she casually strolled along the sidewalk. These people are awfully noisy. She saw a teenage, gruff-looking boy walking in the opposite direction of her.

I'd like to hit that, the boy thought.

Rukia whipped around. "Excuse me?!" Normally, she'd have her naive, innocent school girl facade on, but today was just not her day. She was in the mood to hit something, and unfortunately for the boy, it just might be him.

The muscular teenager turned to face her, wondering what she was talking about. "The hell you want?" he spat. Probably a good time, he thought smugly.

"For you to shut the hell up, that's what! Who do you think you are, anyway?" she bit out venomously. Her hand curled up into a shaking ball, ready to knock him good.

"Eh?" He was utterly confused. I always gotta like the crazy bitches. He jerked from his thoughts as a fist punched into his jaw, snapping his head to the side. He stumbled backward, cupping his cheek in pain. Dayum!

Rukia hadn't taken into account that when he spoke, she didn't see his mouth moving. She was just too caught up in letting off some steam. Satisfied with her direct hit, she turned and made her way to the school.

She was late, and winced slightly as the bell's incessant ringing made her headache return. She also cringed at what her Nii-sama would think if he knew she had been late, whether the place she was going to was trivial or not. Making her way through the empty halls, she popped into her first class: Chemistry. She could hear the students' faint voices, and wondered why everyone was whispering. She walked over to Ichigo, her lab partner, and whispered a short "Hey."

"Why're you whispering?" he asked in his normal tone.

Rukia looked confused, but shrugged. Maybe everyone was just gossiping about something.

Man, she can be so weird sometimes.

"You know what!" she snapped and jerked her gaze to him.

The orange-haired boy raised his left eyebrow. "What's your deal?"

"You," she muttered.

"What's that supposed to mean?" he asked, trying to keep the offense from showing in his voice.

Rukia sighed and started working, for once not trying to start a fight. When the bell rang, she heard a bunch of whispered 'finally's. "Alright, see you after school," she waved Ichigo off and met up with Orihime in the hallway. The bad thing about this year was that she only had one class with Ichigo. At least Orihime was in a few of them.

"Rukia!" Orihime greeted with a bright smile. Uryuu soon caught up with the two. "Hey Uryuu!"

God you're beautiful, Orihime.

Rukia nearly choked. "What?!" Her eyes shifted to Uryuu instantly. He only looked at her curiously. "Are you and...Orihime--going out?"

"Of course not, Rukia. Why would you think that?" Orihime's voice was completely innocent. Uryuu would never feel about me that way, just like Ichigo, she thought dejectedly.

Rukia quickly became uncomfortable, and the three had stopped walking by now.

Why would she think we were going out? Orihime's far too good for me.

"Do you two hear yourselves? You just admitted--Ahh! I must be going crazy." She stormed off, leaving the two running to catch up with her.

"Rukia...?" Orihime was the brave one to speak up. "Are you alright?"

Rukia stopped and turned to Orihime. She had to be going insane, that was the only logical explanation. "Do you think I'm crazy?"

"Of course not, Rukia!" Orihime smiled.

A little, Uryuu Ishida muttered mentally. He pushed up his glasses.

Rukia's eyes widened. "Your mouth didn't move. You...You--"

It generally doesn't move when you aren't speaking...What has gotten into her? he thought sarcastically. Uryuu wasn't the only one freaked out at the moment.

Orihime seemed oblivious to everything. "We're going to be late you two!"

"Right," both mumbled simultaneously, still in deep thought. Rukia had to test something. "Say, Orihime..." she paused. "What do you think about...About Ichigo?" That was a harmless question, right?

He's the most amazing man I've ever known. I don't think I'll ever stop loving him. "He's a great friend! Why do you ask?"

Rukia knew Orihime would never say such a thing out loud, and as both sets of countering words filled her ears, she knew the orange-haired girl had only spoken one of them. I can...I can hear what they're thinking? I knew it. I am going crazy.

Walking into the Trigonometry classroom, Rukia sat down at her seat with a wary expression on her face. Everything seemed so much louder then, now that she was aware of her...mental issue.

I can't believe he broke up with me! I have half a mind to castrate that man. So help me God, if I see him with Laura again, I'll bitch slap his ass all the...

Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God. I didn't study, and now I'm going to fail, and be grounded...

I hate my life.

I hope Aiko knows Laura's my sister, and I only broke up with her because she's acting like...

School sucks.

Why don't my parents just butt out?! Grahh!

Rukia's eye was twitching by this point. Humans were whiny little things, weren't they?

I really hate these kids.

Rukia's head jerked to face the teacher at the front of the class. Relentless babbling filled her ears and she cupped her hands over them. "Will you all shut up!" she yelled in annoyance. Everyone dropped what they were doing to look at her.

What's her deal?

She smiled sheepishly and raised her hand. "Uhm, I'm not feeling too well, may I go to the nurse?"

The teacher nodded. "Orihime, why don't you--"

"That's not necessary, thank you." The raven-haired girl quickly stood up and rushed out of the classroom, instantly taking in deep breaths. It was as if the room was closing in on her and her lungs were slowly but steadily getting ready to collapse. As if at the opportune moment, her hollow-detector beeped. This was another thing that was bad about Ichigo being in different classrooms. Although, they had come up with a sign.

Rukia ran down the hallway--glad that it was empty--and arrived at Ichigo's History class. She peeked through the little window and spotted Ichigo in the front row. Damn, a sign didn't work if he wasn't looking at her. Knocking on the door, she sighed and waited for the teacher to open it.

"Ahh, Miss Kuchiki. What can I do for you?" he asked with a slightly annoyed smile.

"I need to borrow Ichigo for a moment."

The man rolled his eyes. She always needed to borrow him for a moment. And "a moment" usually was a few hours, by which time the class was already over. "What for this time?"

It would've been smart if she thought this through before hand. Thinking quickly on her feet, she made up something random. "Ahhmmm, family emergency!" she exclaimed, feinting worry. She tugged on her collar, knowing Ichigo was looking.

The teacher sighed. "Go ahead, Kurosaki. Just be prepared to make up any work you miss." He hadn't finished speaking before Ichigo was out the door and running down the hallway next to Rukia.

"So where is it?" Ichigo asked, taking long strides.

Rukia had no trouble keeping up. "At the park near Granby Street," she stressed, knowing it was a few miles from the school.

Rukia then, along the way there, listened to his thoughts. Her assumptions were confirmed; ever-so-often she would look over to see his mouth still, but the words flowing out like normal.

Damn, the hollow rate has gone up within the past month. Nothing too suspicious, but I still have to be on alert.

It was just like Ichigo to be stressing out about protecting everyone and making sure he was a hero at everything. Rukia smiled to herself, thinking back to the first few days she had spent with him after transferring her powers to him. He couldn't find a reason for going out of his way to save someone, and now, it was all he wanted to do. She liked to think she played some role in his transformation.

After arriving, Ichigo quickly got out of his gigai and gripped Zangetsu from behind him, the white bandages falling. It was somewhat graceful, but aggressive nonetheless. He glared toward the hollow, who then started yapping about the only thing every other hollow talked about when he arrived. "A soul reaper!" they would say, or, "Yum!" He was slightly on edge about this one, though.

"A female Shinigami!" It's high-pitched squeal was almost deafening. His gaze didn't leave Rukia, as if he hadn't acknowledge Ichigo one bit.

"Over here, you bastard!" Ichigo jumped high into the air and came down with force. I'll be damned before I let it hurt Rukia.

Rukia was caught off guard by that, still confusing people's thoughts for what they said out loud. A long, tentacle-like arm swept across the sky, descending downward until it connected with her flesh. Her body flew to the side until finally hitting the ground and rolling across the cement. The impact had left dust blowing up, creating a foggy beige color in the air.

"Rukia!" he shouted, wanting to go tend to her, but knew he had to deal with the hollow first. He hastily turned his attention back to the rotten soul and swung Zangetsu toward its head. Without paying any mind to how easily or fast that went, he rushed to Rukia's limp figure.

Damn it. I should've been paying closer attention. Don't be hurt, Rukia.

Rukia was a tough girl, and although in human form, that smack only left her with a few cuts and bruises. But she played this off. And she didn't know why she kept pretending like she was unconscious, but she knew it had something to do with hearing Ichigo's true voice.

Look at her, Ichigo. Isn't that cute, how easily she can be wounded?

Rukia's body instantly stiffened. Ichigo's...was that his hollow? She was still very much in shock and slightly disbelieving at the fact she had acquired this telepathic ability. In fact, up until now, her first priority was to see Urahara about it and ask him how the hell something like this could occur. But now...she was scared. And there were very little things she was afraid of. Her brother's disapproval, Gin Ichimaru, and this...this thing.

I know your thoughts Ichigo, you can't hide it from me! It kills you, The King of all people, to see her like this! Tch, how pathetic she is.

Shut up! Stop talking about her like that. By this point, he had returned to his human form and lifted Rukia's seemingly unconscious form from the concrete.

Does it bother you? Why? She's just a little bitch...

I said shut up!

Just a little bitch, the voice sang. That you're in love with.

Rukia let in a quick gasp of air and her eyes shot open. Now she knew she was insane. She wasn't hearing voices of other people's thoughts...she had to of been hearing her own. Because Ichigo Kurosaki did not love her.

Ichigo looked down to her with slight worry. "Hey, how're you feeling?" His voice was as casual as usual.

Rukia realized why he must've always held a scowl on his face...That voice was annoying! That hollow voice...she'd scowl, too, if she heard it all the time. No, stop thinking that. You can't hear anyone. You're just going crazy, she convinced herself. "I'm fine, put me down, Ichigo."

She doesn't look fine. She looks like she's...afraid of me.

Why wouldn't she be, King? Actually it's not technically you she's afraid of.

What're you talking about? Ichigo was annoyed to no end, but he had learned to live with this.

She's afraid of me.

This made Ichigo pause his walk, his body resembling a frozen sculpture. Rukia climbed down from his arms, and even though she didn't believe she could really hear him--them--, the thoughts sure did seem to match his reactions...

What do you mean?

She can hear me. You. Us. She can hear our thoughts right now.

Bull shit, how--

"He's right, Ichigo." Rukia stared up at him.

Oh how good it is to talk with you for the first time like this. How are you Rukia?

Shut up! Don't talk to her!

Ichigo soon after blushed, remembering what his hollow self had revealed. "Rukia...I..."

Damn, can she really hear me?

"Yes. And Ichigo--"

"Damn it Rukia, how long are you gonna sleep?"

"What?" Rukia raised an eyebrow.

"It's twelve already! Wake the Hell up!"

Ichigo's arm outstretched to her with a smile. And as he was about to mutter those three, lovely words, her eyes opened.

"Rukia!" There was a banging on the closet door and it finally slid open.

The tired girl quickly shot up and grasped Ichigo's collar. "Quick, think something!"

"What the--"

"Just do it, Ichigo!" There was a pause, and as much as she would like to think Ichigo thought about nothing sometimes, she knew it was impossible. "I can't hear...your..." She suddenly felt ashamed for her dream. Why would she dream something like that?

Until next time, Rukia.

The last fading thoughts of her sleeping stupor faded and she was now fully awake. "Just forget it," she mumbled to Ichigo.

AN: Ahh, so like...I started this out and was like "omg best idea ever!" and then it turned out SO differently and I didn't like it.

I had planned to make a LOT of filler stuff to emphasize more on the point of her telepathic ability, and in fact didn't intend for it to be a dream.

But then I got to thinking, and made it a dream as a way to connect between Dark Ichigo and Rukia.

So, you, as a reader, have a choice.

This can be a oneshot, whereas the pairing is Ichigo/Rukia. OR, I can turn it into a twoshot with a developing pairing of Hollow Ichigo/Rukia. This would be Part Two: Dreams.

Hoped you all enjoyed. Even if it didn't turn out how I wanted :P

Reviews are loved!