~Lost Child Part 7

~A deadly game~

It was already daylight when Rukia opened her eyes. She blinked, recognizing she was back in Ichigo’s room. There was a small sigh next to her. She looked down to see Ichigo curled up beside her; Rukia’s arms around his waist as she held him protectively all night. There were dried tear stains on his face. Funny, I don’t remember falling asleep… She kissed his cheek lightly, pulling the blankets up and around him. Silently, Rukia slipped out of his room.

It was another hour before Ichigo sleepily walked down the stairs. Rukia was already dressed in her favorite sundress, sitting at the table with chocolate chip pancakes stacked high in front of her. Her hands held up her favorite manga as she sipped at a glass of juice.  It wasn’t until Ichigo was right in front of her that she noticed him. “Hey sleepy head! You hungry?” She pulled him up onto her lap. Amber eyes brightened visibly at the chocolate chip pancakes. “Yes please!”

Rukia laughed and set him down in the chair, handing him a fork as she poured syrup over his pancakes. I need to take his mind off things. He usually wakes up so early. For him to sleep in like that… He must have been terrified. Maybe a walk in the park will cheer him up? She sat down beside him, watching him eagerly stuff forkfuls of pancakes into his mouth.  “Baka! Slow down! You’re going to choke if you keep doing that!” His only response was to give her his famous lopsided grin and continue wolfing down his food. Rolling her eyes, Rukia stood up and began cleaning the dishes from last night, putting them away. “What do you say we go to the park this afternoon for a while? We can play all kinds of games there and you can work off all that energy. “

Ichigo just swallowed the last bit of his pancakes. “Yay! The park! Rukia, will you play tag with me? Or hide and seek?!”

Rukia nodded. “Of course I will. Then late at night, we have to go visit a friend of mine, okay? So you get to stay up extra late!” Ichigo gave her a huge grin. “You’re so nice, Rukia!”

“Thank you. Now go up stairs and get dressed. Clean your room for me while I do some chores and then we’ll go after lunch.”

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“Do you plan on watching their home the entire time?” Ulquiorra didn’t move from his perch on a long branch. Grimmjow just sneered down at him from his higher branch.

“Shut it. She’ll leave the house soon. We can grab her then.”

“Keep in mind there cannot be a large number of humans around. Aizen doesn’t want to stir up the 13 Court Guard Squads yet. We haven’t prepared for his second plan.”

“I know that! Just shut yer fucking mouth. She’ll leave, we’ll follow her. As soon as no one is around, we grab her and go.” The blue haired espada adjusted his position. Ulquiorra looked up slowly, his famous blank stare painted on his face.

“And do you honestly believe that girl will just go quietly? She defeated an espada single handedly.”

“Trust me…she’s not as strong as the orange haired bastard. Between the two of us, she doesn’t have a chance.”

“She will if she notices you aren’t hiding your reistsu.”

“Damn it!” Grimmjow cursed, covering his spiritual pressure once more. “This takes too much concentration.”

Ulquiorra bit back his retort, turning his attention back to the house. The front door had just opened.

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“Ichigo! Let’s go baka!” Her foot tapping impatiently on the ground, Rukia waited as Ichigo ran around, looking for his shoes. “Found them!” He sang triumphantly, sitting down to put them on. Rolling her eyes, the small soul reaper leaned against the front door. A faint breeze moved her hair slightly as she looked uneasily down the street. She could have sworn that, for an instant, she had sensed strong spiritual pressure nearby. But it was gone now, leaving nothing but an empty street with trees swaying in the breeze and neighbors bustling about. If it’s such a perfect day to go to the park, why do I feel so anxious?

“Rukia?”

She looked down to see a now ready Ichigo gazing up at her intently. She smiled and held out her hand. “Ready?”

“Yes! Let’s go! It’s this way!” He slipped his small hand into hers, leading her along the side walk. Rukia couldn’t help but chuckle slightly at the enthusiastic boy. For once, my hand is bigger than his…  It wasn’t long before the park came into view. There were several children playing, their parents chatting on the benches. Ichigo pulled along until they reached the play ground area, slides and swing sets peppering the grass. “Wanna  play tag?” There was a mischievous sparkle in Ichigo’s bright amber eyes.

“Um, sure baka.” I know that look…

A small hand reached out and tapped her. “TAG YOU’RE IT!” Ichigo called, already running through the grass, his orange hair a blur. Rukia stared after him in surprise for a second.   Even without  flash-step, he’s fast!  She blinked and shook her head, taking off after him.

Panting and leaning on a tree, Rukia had to admit - Ichigo had a lot more energy then she remembered. No wonder Isshin started fighting with him!  It’s gotta be the only way to deplete this kid’s energy! It had been several turns of tag with Ichigo chasing Rukia, inevitably catching up to her and touching her dress or Rukia chasing him, admittedly using flash step toward the end to scoop him up, tickling his stomach before kissing his cheek and setting him down. “Oi! Ichigo!” she called. A flash of orange hair burst through the trees, stopping in front of her. “Yes Rukia?” He smiled innocently, not even out of breath.
“Why don’t we play…hide and seek for a while…” That way I can catch my breath and he can keep playing. We only have an hour before it gets dark so a few rounds of this and then it’s dinner time.

“Okay Rukia! Can I hide first?!” The small boy was practically bouncing up and down with excitement. “I’m really good at hiding!”

She stifled a laugh. “Okay baka. You can hide first. Let me count to ten.”

~~~~~~~~
“Damn it! How long will it take for all these people to go home?!” Grimmjow growled, staring straight at the raven haired soul reaper. “She’s playing with that kid and they’re right by all those other kids….”

“Patience Grimmjow. Remember Aizen-sama’s orders.” Ulquiorra continued to lay on the ground, his eyes closed as if he were napping.

“Screw him and his orders. I want to sink my claws into that bitch right now.”

“If you try, you are aware that I am obligated to stop you.”  A single green streaked eye opened to stare at the feline espada.

Grimmjow opened his mouth, a snarl in his voice when his eyes followed the orange haired boy as he ran through some trees right into a clearing until he ducked down, hiding against another tree on the other side. That part of the park was completely cut off. No one was there except for the boy. Grimmjow turned his attention to the soul reaper. “Come on…follow the brat…” he muttered. Ulquiorra sensed the sudden tension in the air and sat up, his eyes also following her, silently.

~~~~~~~~
Rukia kept her eyes closed after counting, feeling for his spiritual pressure, her breathing finally back to normal. “There!” She opened her eyes, a smirk on her face. “Baka, I found you!” She called, starting to walk  in his general direction. His laughter reached Rukia’s ears as she ducked under several branches and entered the clearing. She looked around before spotting the tree Ichigo was hiding behind. “Got ya!”  

“That’s my line.”

Rukia stopped, frozen mid-step. She felt her blood turn to ice as that voice reached her ears. She knew that voice…and the espada it belonged to. That’s….not ….possible… Her eyes were wide with fear as she glanced over her shoulder slowly. A devious grin was spread over the feline’s face as he stood inches away from her. “Grimmjow… “ She whispered, her mind screaming one word…Run.