Chapter 5

COMPETITIVE

"Can you keep up with me, strawberry head?"

Renji chuckled with delight as he shunpo-ed in and out of the large stone edifices within the training grounds under Urahara's hut. Ichigo grinned and sped up, finding himself right under Renji with ease. "Teme! Don't underestimate me you red pineapple!"

They were racing. Rukia sat a distance away from them with Yorichi, taking in the fun. She would never admit it, but she found Ichigo's somewhat childish competitiveness rather … cute.

She looked on, secretly cheering on her boyfriend, as Renji dazzled Ichigo with the footwork they learnt in training school at Sereitei. Ichigo may be stronger, but Renji did have some tricks up his sleeves. She saw Ichigo hesitate, then ignore him and simply speed ahead.

"Oye! Wait, Ichigo!" Renji called, almost falling in an attempt to catch up. Ichigo chuckled. "Losing balance, old man?" He taunted, "You'll never catch me!"

Rukia spared a tiny smile at his victory, knowing full well that it wasn't simply a race to him, but proof of his ability as a Shinigami. He wanted to be the best, for himself and for others. It sounded rather stereotypical to her at first – which Shinigami didn't want to be the best? – but it was only after the beautiful evening they sat watching the sunset by the river did he fully explain to her why he was so competitive…

"Ichigo," Rukia murmured, hugging her knees to herself as they sat on the cool, soft grass. She was nervous; she didn't know how to ask him what she wanted to know without sounding… well, nosy. "Ne, Rukia? I'm listening," he had replied edgily, irritated at her silence. He hated the overuse of his name, for some odd reason.

"Why … why are you so competitive? Why are you so bent on slicing down everything that's in your way? You keep asking nii-sama for a rematch even though you've already bested him. You always fight with Renji, and that one day you lost you were so depressed … what do you want to prove?"

She turned sparkling, curious eyes to Ichigo's passionate, chocolate ones. She knew she had hit a tender spot, and a stab of guilt shot through her. She wondered if he would be upset, until a slow smile bloomed on his face… but it wasn't the warm, handsome smile she was accustomed to. No, this one was tinged with a sadness and bitterness that wrapped cold fingers around her heart and squeezed, making her want to reach out and hug him.

"Rukia…" he said softly, then turned away to look at the river. "I … I have to be the best. I have to save people… it's what I was made to do…"

"But you've already saved so many, Ichigo. Why do you keep fighting?"

"I saved many … but I didn't save her…" Rukia could see the moistening of his eyes even after he blinked them back. "My mother died so suddenly … it was like she was a ghost, and she just faded away … I fight, Rukia, because I have to prove to myself that I'm not … worthless. The day Tatsuki-chan made me cry at karate class, it was my mom who held me, told me it was okay… but that same day when she left, I felt like her words were meaningless, because she wasn't there to say it anymore…"

He turned to Rukia now, wearing the same sad smile, his eyes foggy. Rukia tentatively reached to the side of her and touched his hand, then took it, squeezing lightly. He flashed his teeth at her before returning the squeeze, looking deep into her eyes before continuing. "I miss my mother, Rukia … everyday. I was only a kid when she left, but … I miss her. When I fight, and when I win, I feel like she's smiling at me. I feel like she's proud of me, her Number One Guardian Angel…Since I couldn't save her, I'll save everyone else…"

Rukia cracked a smile, then squeezed again. His smile changed. It transformed into the one she knew and loved. "You saved me Ichigo… Arigatou…"

Ichigo shifted closer to her and with a contented sigh tucked her arm snugly around his own, and they sat there, together, connected, and peaceful…

"Rukia! Ne, Rukia!"

Rukia gasped and blinked her big indigo eyes, only to focus on the same chocolate eyes of which she was previously thinking.

"What's wrong with you? Let's go get ice cream, I won," Ichigo grinned. Rukia focused on the grin, her aura still peaceful and contented from her thoughts. This grin was not sad, or bitter or regretful. It was not hurt or damaged.

It was a grin she attributed only to his victory, a grin of pride, satisfaction and most importantly, fulfilment.

This grin, coupled with the blurred red image of Renji in the background, his arms folded and his head sunk in irritated defeat, with a teasing Yoruichi perched on one side and a silent but wicked Urahara on the other, his smirk hidden by his fan, their presence only serving to madden Renji more to the point where his veins would explode with fury at having lost … This picture was the picture which made Rukia slowly grin back.

This picture made up for all the times Ichigo was unfair, brash, and utterly competitive.

"Ichigo," Rukia stated flatly as she rose and took his hand. He cocked his head sideways at her as they walked out of the training grounds together. "Since you won, can I have a new set of Chappy stickers?"

Ichigo's deep, rich chuckle could be heard fading away as they left, "Okay Rukia, we'll buy new Chappy stickers…"

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…What? C is for Chappy too! :P

THANK YOU to all those who have been R&Ring, please continue!