Lost Child Part 6

Rukia sighed in relief as she spotted Ichigo still sitting on the couch. He looked up when she entered the room. “Rukia!” he chirped happily, patting the seat next to him. “Sit with me…I wanna lay on you.”  Rolling her eyes, Rukia complied, letting him rest against her as she held him. The movie was almost over and Rapunzel’s hair had turned dark black. Ichigo looked over at the soul reaper. “You  know what Rukia? I think she looks prettier with short dark hair. When I imagine my princess, she always has short dark hair.”  Violet eyes widened as he turned back to the tv. Can he mean…me? Rukia hugged him a bit tighter, wishing with all her heart Urahara would hurry with that cure. The small boy noticed her arms tightening and looked up into her eyes again. “You’re really pretty Rukia. I like you.” He grinned, putting his small hand on her cheek. “Will you be my princess when I’m big like my dad? I’ll buy you lots of pretty stuff! Just like my dad does for mommy! Oh but I won’t trick you like he did. “Ichigo pointed at the screen. “I’ll protect you from the bad guys, like a real prince is supposed to. That’s what my mom named me!” He pointed at himself, now standing proudly beside the sofa. “He who protects!” With shimmering eyes, Rukia kissed his cheek. “When you’re older.” She promised.

Rukia and Ichigo spent the rest of the day relatively  peaceful. The raven haired soul reaper quickly discovered that although her pout would work on Ichigo, she had a hard time resisting those wide amber eyes. Lucky for her, Ichigo didn’t ask for a lot of outrageous things. The only request she had to deny was his never ending hunger for chocolate. She gave him a few pieces here and there but this kid was more addicted to chocolate than a druggie to crack. She had to admit, it was pretty cute. With some coaxing on her part, she had put Ichigo to bed. It had been a long night. She had just sat down on Yuzu’s bed when a familiar ringing came from her pocket. “You’d better have good news Urahara.” Rukia grumbled as she put the phone to her ear. “As a matter of fact, Miss Kuchiki, I do” came the shop keepers voice.

“You do? What is it? Did you find a way to cure Ichigo?”

“Yes. It took a long while but I finally cracked the code. The antidote is fermenting now and should be ready tomorrow at midnight. “
Rukia released a breath she didn’t know she had been holding. That secret fear that Ichigo would stay so young had been eating away at her silently. She missed him holding her at night; his random kisses while she was distracted; the way she could make him blush by whispering in his ear; how his reistsu was always protecting her. She missed him. As adorable as 8 year old Ichigo was…she couldn’t kiss him. He couldn’t hold her. Rukia had already told herself if there was no cure, she would continue to protect Ichigo and to teach him to be a soul reaper again. Another secret fear tortured her heart. If there was no cure…when he did grow up, would she be too old for him? But all that washed away with Kisuke’s words. Inhaling deeply, Rukia spoke into the phone again.

“Thank you Urahara…I mean that.”

“Of course, since this was partially my doing, I’m happy to give you a discount.” The snarl he received on the other end was more than enough answer. “Gomen! It’s on the house. Just bring little Ichi by tomorrow at midnight and you’ll have your big strong handsome soul reaper boyfriend back in no time!” Rukia blushed bright red and hung up the phone. Finally relaxing, her eyes closed and her breathing deepened as the small soul reaper fell asleep.

Someone was crying. That much she could tell. In her deep sleep, Rukia groaned, trying to stop the noise. Who was that? Why are they crying? Finally, violet eyes opened and blinked, bleary with sleep before widening in the dark. “That noise…its coming from Ichigo’s room!”  In a flash, she was at his door, opening it softly. “Ichigo?” Her only answer was a soft whimpering sob, a mess of orange hair tossing and turning in the bed. Rukia silently walked over to him, sitting on the edge of his bed. She reached out to touch his cheek, pulling her hand back in surprise. It’s wet…He’s been crying…How long has he been like this? She picked him up gently, holding him against her as she rocked him softly. She’d seen an old woman do this with a child back in the Rukon district and it seemed to work. Small hands reached up to grip her shirt, making Rukia look down in surprise. She saw Ichigo staring up at her with terrified wide eyes. “Please Rukia…make the monsters go away…” he whispered, closing his eyes again and holding her tight, as if he were afraid to let go. It broke her heart. She leaned down and kissed him, holding him tighter. “I’m here Ichigo. I won’t let the monsters get you.”

He opened his eyes again at her words, tears sliding down his small face once more. He shook his head slowly, whispering  “No Rukia. You don’t understand…the monsters…want you!” His grip tightened even more.

Rukia blinked. “Why would they want me? Ichigo, I won’t let them have either of us okay? You’re safe with me. I swear, I’ll protect you this time.”

His small fingers relaxed slightly as he rested his head against her chest.  “Mm, your heart sounds nice…Can I sleep here?”His voice was thick with sleep once more.

How ironic…I’m the one usually saying that to him!  She kissed his orange hair again. “Of course…” She began to hum her lullabye, rocking him slowly to sleep. Rukia’s mind, however, was far from sleepy. These monsters…are they hollows? But how does he know about them? His memory…is it starting to blend together? This can’t be good…