Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach. Reminder: Please pardon my grammar errors and typographical errors. :)
AAAAND~ WE FINALLY REACHED THE LAST HALF OF THIS STORY. I DID AN OUTLINE FROM THE MANUSCRIPT AND THIS WILL FINISH WITH 29 CHAPTERS (INCLUDING THE EPILOGUE)
SO… only NINE left!
Countdown starts!
Enjoy chapter TWENTY!
Summary : Kurosaki Ichigo and Kuchiki Rukia: Started as enemies, then became best friends. Join these two as they juggle their school works, coffee shop job, live performance, friendship and of course, love lives. It was always part of the equation. –IchiRuki, HitsuHina— …
—You Are My Love—
A Bleach AU Fanfic
Written By: Mari Kia Aishiteru
.
Chapter 20
The Last Conversation
She sat on her bed, wrapping her arms around her bent knees as she stared ahead. She couldn't sleep. She thought of the things that happened a few weeks ago.
She still couldn't forget him.
She knew that he knew of her involvement in that incident and she couldn't talk to him about it. She was afraid to know that he hate her now.
It would be very painful.
But, she missed him so much, so much that she couldn't take it anymore.
She bit her lip.
Should I meet him?
She shook her head.
What if he yell at me? What if he hates me now?
I'll die.
She hid her face on her knees.
What should I do… Ichigo?
…
Rukia and Ichigo waved at Momo and Toushirou as the two teens walked back to the coffee shop. The two of them promised to stock ingredients since there were almost empty. The two of them were the one in charge of that since they were the ones who make the coffees and menu in the coffee shop.
The younger couple promised to take care of things while they buy the necessities in the market.
Entering the shopping district, Rukia saw things that she want and asked—forced, actually—his kind boyfriend to buy them for her. Ichigo just shrugged and gave it to her. He promised to treat her kindly after the incident with Renji.
As they walked home, with shopping bags on Ichigo's both hands and one for Rukia, Ichigo asked Rukia out of curiosity.
"Rukia?"
"Hm?"
"I wonder if Senna knew what her brother did to you…"
The raven haired girl turned to him and they looked at each other before she sighed and focused her eyes ahead of her.
"No, she didn't know." She replied. "Kaien nii-chan told me. He talked to Renji via phone call after Momo told him what happened."
Ichigo raised an eyebrow. "Then? What did he say?"
"Renji told him the truth, but he never apologized for what he'd done." Rukia skipped. "Kaien nii-chan got mad at him but Renji told him to never tell Senna anything."
Ichigo nodded. "Didn't want to involve his sister, huh?"
"Aa, however, Kaien nii-chan knew that he couldn't keep it from her forever." Rukia turned to him because she had skipped ahead of him.
"Apparently, Renji is somewhere abroad right now." She said. "I think we'll be fine for now."
Ichigo closed his eyes with a sigh. "I hope so… but if ever anything happens again, I'm going to protect you."
Rukia stared at his amber filled eyes. "Thank you, Ichigo."
He smiled down at her.
They both stared at each other like that for who knows how long before a voice took them out of their reverie.
"Ichigo?"
Rukia turned around as Ichigo looked ahead of him. There, he saw someone that he never thought he would see again after everything that happened.
"Orihime…"
The red haired model, Inoue Orihime, glanced at Rukia, then at Ichigo. She bit her lip and breathed in. "Um… can I… talk to you?"
Ichigo glanced at his raven haired girlfriend and placed a hand on her shoulder. Rukia turned to him and smiled with a nod. Ichigo smirked.
Orihime noticed their exchange and she couldn't help the pain that struck her heart. She saw Ichigo giving the bags to Rukia as he call a cab for her. The bags were too much for her to handle so he told her to take a cab to coffee shop instead.
"I'll see you later, Rukia." He told her as before he close the door of the cab.
The model saw her smile at him. "Hm. Take care."
He nodded and kissed her forehead gently.
Orihime turned her eyes away at the sight.
They looked so in love with each other, she realized.
Ichigo closed the door of the cab as it drove away.
"Ne…" he spoke. She turned to him, but he wasn't looking at her. "Let's talk by the river."
She nodded.
The walk was filled with silence and Orihime wasn't used to it. It was a tense atmosphere. Her heart was beating fast against her chest. She was nervous around him and it was the first time. Usually, being with him was comfort for her. He was kind and easy to talk to. However, she didn't know what he thought of her now that she did something stupid like that.
They reached the riverbank and Ichigo sat on the grass, overlooking the bridge. Orihime, without a word, sat next to him and stared ahead.
Silence ensued before…
"So… what do you want to talk about?"
She glanced at him, only to be surprise that he was looking straight at her. She averted her gaze as her heart continued to beat painfully against her chest.
"Ichigo… I… are you angry at me?"
"Why?"
"Well… because…. I think you knew already what I did last time."
Ichigo stared ahead of him. "Hm. I knew. Renji told us."
"Yeah… I… I'm sure you hate me now."
He chuckled at that, causing her to turn to him. "No I'm not. I can never hate you, Orihime."
"But…"
"You are my childhood friend, my best friend, my first love… there was no way I can hate you."
"I… I did something stupid and you're not mad at me?" Orihime stared at him unbelievingly. "You don't hate me?"
"I'm a bit disappointed but not really mad. After all, I understand why you did that."
"Ichigo…"
"You love me and you cannot accept the fact that I love someone else so you did that to make me turn your way. Love does that, it makes people do crazy things." He explained. "Love makes people think about themselves."
She bowed her head in shame.
"But you know… that's fine. Love makes people honest with themselves and I think that's amazing."
Orihime gasped.
"I love you, Orihime and that will never change. After all, you made my childhood colorful." He said. "However… right now… there is someone who made my life colorful and meaningful. With every laugh… with every tears… with every banter… with every coffee she serves me… with every song she sings… with every smile… I realized that love really is unpredictable."
She smiled sadly. Ichigo… you…
Orihime stood up suddenly and stepped a little bit ahead of him. "Ichigo?"
"Hm?"
"For the last time, let me say this, okay?"
"What is it?"
Orihime turned around and smiled brightly at him. "I love you."
Ichigo smiled sadly. "I'm sorry."
"As expected?" she grinned, tears in her eyes. "But… I feel so much better now. Thank you."
The orange haired boy stared at her with a smile. "You look beautiful shining so brightly like that, Orihime."
She smiled brightly. "Don't say that! I might chase after you again!"
Ichigo nodded. "Sorry. I'm just telling the truth, though."
Orihime looked up at the sky with a serene smile on her face. "I know."
...
They both walked towards the coffee shop, next to each other.
"Ichigo?"
"Hm?"
"Do you think I will find love like yours too?"
He smiled at her. "Of course you can. I'm sure he's waiting for you to come and sweep him off your feet."
She laughed. "Cheesy."
Ichigo was happy that they became friends again. Orihime was important to him. She was a dear friend and he didn't want to lose her.
"Do you think Rukia will be able to forgive me?"
"Rukia is kind. She will forgive you."
"But—"
"No time to ponder, Orihime, we're already here."
The girl gasped and breathed deeply.
"Nervous?"
"Hmm."
He pushed her on the glass door. "Go."
She walked inside as Ichigo stayed outside the coffee shop and stared at her. He didn't want to interfere the two females important to him settle the matter.
Orihime walked towards the counter, seeing Rukia alone, wiping the counter. She sat on the stool and stared at her.
"Rukia?"
"Ye—" she stopped and was surprised to see Inoue Orihime in front of her. "Oh. You're done talking to Ichigo?"
She nodded. "Hm."
"Then what are you doing here?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I… I want to apologize for everything." She said, looking down at her hands on her lap. "I'm sorry, Rukia."
Rukia stopped wiping the counter and prepared a certain coffee. She was doing her job quietly while Orihime was watching her nervously. She was waiting for Rukia to answer her.
She couldn't take it anymore and bowed her head. I knew she won't forgive me. What I've done was unforgivable… there's no way she…
All of a sudden, she placed a cup of coffee in front of her. She was surprised and slowly rose her head and met Rukia's eyes.
"Go ahead and drink it."
"Rukia…"
"Drink while it is still hot."
Orihime looked at the coffee. It was her favorite, café au lait, with the coffee art of a four leaf clover. She carefully and slowly drank from it. After placing it on the coaster, she smiled softly, tears gathering in her eyes. "So warm… and delicious." She whispered.
"Thanks."
She stared at Rukia who she found also staring at her. "Rukia… I…"
"It's okay, Orihime. Let's just put everything behind us."
"Rukia…"
"You are Ichigo's friend… and you are important to him. And I think we're also friends so…" she trailed off and it made Orihime smiled brightly. "Thank you, Rukia!"
"Hm." Rukia smiled at her.
Ichigo stared at the both of them and let out a smile escaped his lips. "Thank goodness." He walked inside and sat next to Orihime.
"So… everything's settled?" he asked.
Orihime nodded. "Yeah. Thanks, Ichigo."
He nodded. "Yeah, anytime, Orihime." He turned to his girlfriend. "Anyway, Rukia cappuccino please."
The raven haired girl glared at him. "Why don't you do it yourself, boss?"
"You—"
"I'm busy, boss."
"Don't call me th—"
"But you are really my bo—"
"I said don't call me that!" Ichigo pulled his hair as he moved around the counter. "Argh, fine! I'll do it myself, you lazy—"
Rukia was holding a knife as she turned to him. "You were saying?" Ichigo stepped back. "Nothing."
Orihime laughed at them. She felt so much better even though she was staring at the both of them.
They were really perfect for each other. How could I've been so blind?
Rangiku, Momo and Toushirou were all in the stage and looking over at the counter. "Orihime apologized to Ichigo?" Ran asked. "For what?" she asked, confused.
Toushirou sighed. "Oh yeah, nee-chan didn't know about it." He said. "Orihime nee-san and Abarai Renji became accomplices to break up Rukia nee-chan and Ichi nii-chan."
"Eh?" Rangiku's eyes widened. "How come I didn't know this?"
Momo shrugged. "Sorry Ran nee-chan… Rukia nee-chan told me not to tell you so you won't be worried. But everything is fine now so…"
"NO!" the older Hitsugaya exclaimed. "I need details!" she said as she ran to the counter and sat next to Orihime. She saw the girl bowed her head and Rukia telling her not to pester Orihime anymore since all was done already. However, she wasn't Hitsugaya Rangiku if she wasn't persistent.
"Looks like Ichigo nii-chan and Orihime-san gave the details after all." Momo sighed. Toushirou fixed his guitar. "Well… no one can really stop nee-chan whenever she wants something."
"Right."
The chime rang loudly indicating that a customer had arrived. Momo and Toushirou looked up.
"Oh, it's Luna-chan!"
The girl turned to Momo as she meet her halfway. "Momo-chan! Good evening!"
"Hm… what are you doing here? You want some coffee?" Momo asked.
"Ah no… I just want to tell you something." Luna said, as she saw Toushirou stopped behind Momo. "I am going back to America tomorrow."
"Eh?" Momo's eyes widened. "Why so sudden?"
"Well… my mom called. She said the school is asking for me to go back."
"Hmm…" Momo pouted. "I'll be sad but if you really need to go then…"
Shinzaki Luna smiled at her cousin and embraced her. "Momo-chan, take care of Toushirou-kun for me, ne?" she whispered. Momo realized that maybe her cousin really was…
She nodded instead of finishing that thought. "I will, Luna-chan… because I love him."
Luna pulled away and smiled at her. "Very good." Momo grinned.
Toushirou looked at the both of them, noticing that something was being expressed but he didn't dare say anything. After all, girls had their own techniques.
He faced Luna and bowed a little. "Luna-san, please take care."
The blonde haired girl smiled. "Thanks, Toushirou-kun. You too." She turned to the counter. "Rukia nee! Ichigo-san! I'm going now!" The raven haired girl waved as Ichigo raised a hand at her in acknowledgement. "Take care Luna!"
"Hai!"
And Luna was out the coffee shop.
Rangiku stopped listening to Orihime and asked, "Who was that?"
"Our cousin, Shinzaki Luna." Rukia replied.
"Hmm…" Ran said then turned to Orihime. "And then…"
The red haired model sighed. This was going to be a long day.
…
Song/s Used: None.
A/N: Two chapters in one day, because this is short. Please R .
Announcement :
I am planning to revise chapters 1-9 after I completed this. There were so many typographical and grammatical errors and I want to fix it. I hope you could wait a little more. Thanks!
To those who knew my first fanfiction, My Love Your Love All the Way to Our future, I revised the whole story and posted it again here days ago. If you have time, please read that as well and review. Thank you! I changed its title to Our Love Towards Our Future and it has eleven chapters already. I finished editing those chapters so I reposted it here in ff. The last three chapters will be posted as well after I make it from scratch.
Thank you very much for the support!
Next Chapter: Last Moments
Yours Truly,Mari Kia Aishiteru. 05.06.2020. 2403 words