Haunted

Review Replies- Yakumo: hehe, would you go over to Rukia’s house JUST to check out Byakuya though? Maybe yes…
Kunitsu: It is weird, but all of it will be explained and it won’t get too complicated.
MasterAkira: I love how you worded that ‘the complications of having a see-through seme’ X3 It’s funny that you mention that…you’ll see in the next chapter.
Lynzee: Shiro doesn’t even know how…oh, the drama that will arise =D

Many thanks to my beta WarriorNun for cleaning up my mistakes.

Haunted: Chapter 4

I met with Rukia at the park. She was wearing a blue sundress and waving at me. I sighed and rolled my eyes before approaching. She was really goofy. When we were younger she didn’t even know how to open a juice box without my assistance. Weirdo…but I was glad that we got some time alone, Renji would probably meet up with us later after he got off work at the garage. That guy really loved his cars, I thought fondly.

“Hey, Ichigo,” She greeted me.

“Hey, Rukia. No Byakuya?” I questioned while glancing around.

“Nope, he had to work.”

“Ah.”

“So, tell me Ichigo, what is it that you wanted to talk about?” Rukia asked in a serious manner. I glanced over at her curiously and she shrugged. “I know how you are Ichigo, so spill.”

With a heavy sigh I sank down onto the bench next to her. “Something has been happening to me recently.” Rukia blinked and turned on the park bench, crossing her legs so that she was facing me like a little girl. “At first I thought I was imagining things, like stuff you can only see out of the corner of your eye.”

“What are you talking about?” Her eyes were trained on my face, her expression a mask of seriousness.

“There’s this,” I paused as I tried to figure out how to word it. Fuck this was hard. I glanced around to make sure no one was listening and continued on, “ghost, that’s been haunting me.” Silence descended on both of us. Then she started laughing hysterically. “Shut up! I’m serious!”

“Ha ha!!! Sorry Ichigo!” She giggled a little bit more. “It’s just…you saying it with that face!”

“Shut up!” I growled. “This is my normal face!”

She continued to laugh before gasping for breath and finally settling down. “So…” She coughed a little to clear her throat. “I don’t suppose you are being haunted in the metaphorical sense?” Her face didn’t give anything away, but her eyes gleamed with an unknown emotion.

“I mean literally.”

Silence fell again.

“I think you need to tell me the whole story.”

“Well it started last night…” I told her everything. She was quiet the whole time, but I knew that she listened to everything I said carefully. It felt so good to finally tell someone; even if it turned out she couldn’t help me

“I see.” Rukia shifted slightly in her seat as she stared off into nothing, her mind lost in though. “You know that I’m not a spiritual person, or superstitious.”

“Yeah…”

“But I know that you wouldn’t lie to me bout this, and I know you’re not crazy.” She eyed me slyly. “Much.”

“Tch.” I snorted and looked away. Although I knew Rukia wouldn’t think badly of me for my story, it was a huge relief to hear it directly. I felt tension I didn’t know I had left my body. Rukia smiled at me faintly as though she knew what I was thinking. She probably did. Sometimes Rukia understand me better than I do.

“So what do I do?”

“Well…If he really is a ghost, you should probably go to an exorcist or psychic or something. He claimed that you killed him?” I nodded and leaned my head against the back of the park bench. “And you couldn’t find anything about him or his death on the internet…but that doesn’t really mean anything.” She mused to herself and then glanced over at me. “Have you told Renji about this?”

“No, just you.”

“Why not?”

“I’m just…worried what he would think about me.” I really did love Renji, and I trusted him, but this was wild. I’m not sure I would believe him if he told me the same story.

“I understand.” She patted my hand soothingly. “Anyways, I know of this fortune teller who might be able to help you out.”

“But…”

“Come on, it can’t hurt to try.”

I reluctantly allowed myself to be led out of the park and into a more populated area. I glanced over at Rukia who stopped in front of a store front which proclaimed ‘Mystics Merchandise and Miracles.’ I sighed heavily and she shot me an irritated look before pushing the door open and stepping inside. A bell rang over their head and I wrinkled my nose as the heavy scent of incense assaulted me.

“Hello! Is there something I can help you with?” A teenager with pigtails on either side of her head and droopy eyes welcomed them.

“Hello, I was wondering if we could have a session with Yoruichi.”

“Let me see…” The girl grabbed a hold of a thick binder that was next to the register and flipped it open. “It appears she is free for the next hour. Is that fine for you?”

“Yes, thank you.”

“Let me go get her now. It will be just a few minutes.” She went through a different door and Rukia and I were left alone. My eyes went over the ‘merchandise’ and I had to fight not to roll them. Who knew that a magic eight ball was a tool for mystics?

“She will see you now.”

We were led into another room that consisted of a low table surrounded by cushions and-surprise! - More incense. A beautiful woman with dark skin and silky black hair was seated on one of the cushions and appeared to be meditating. When we entered, her eyes opened and she smiled at us.

“Rukia! It’s nice to see you again.”

“Same here, this is Ichigo,” She gestured to me briefly, “and we were wondering if you would be able to help us with something.”

“Hm…” She propped her chin up on her fist and studied me. “Sit down. I will see what I can do.” We sat down and she held out her hand. I eyed it warily making her chuckle. “I promise not to bite, give me your hand.”

I hesitantly gave her my right hand and scowled as she turned it over and lightly dragged her fingers over my palm. She frowned and tightened her grip on my wrist before practically yanking me across the table to bring my hand up to the light. “You…there is something dark surrounding you.” I muffled a scream as my arm was twisted and she stared at my hand intently. “Your life line is branching.” She mumbled more to herself and frowned. “As is your love…” She inhaled sharply and jerked away. “No more.” She glanced over at Rukia and frowned heavily before pushing my hand away. “Much of your future is clouded because you have yet to make a choice.”

“A choice?” I scowled at her and stood. “I don’t need to hear this mumbo-jumbo hypothetical shit.”

“The choices you make will decide your fate.” That was the last thing she said to me before I left the room. I heard Rukia talking to her but didn’t stay to listen, I had to get out. I inhaled deeply as I stepped out onto the sidewalk and a cool breeze rustled my hair. Rukia stepped out a minute later.

“Ichigo…” I looked over at her and saw her concerned look.

“She seems like a crack pot to me.” I mumbled.

“She said there was something dark surrounding you.”

“Who doesn’t have something dark surrounding them?”

She shrugged and sighed heavily. “Come on, let’s get something to eat.”

We stopped at a small restaurant and sat in one of the secluded booths so we could talk more freely. “What should I do?”

“This ghost…Shirosaki, has he actually threatened to kill you?”

“He’s tried to so many times that I think words become obsolete.” I said sarcastically and sipped my soda.

“But he’s never actually done it, even though he could, right?”

I nodded. “Where are you going with this?”

“Maybe if you can help him…find peace or whatever, you can find a way to resolve this.”

“Hm…” That was something to consider. But I doubt that someone like Shirosaki would give me that option.

“I wonder what she was talking about with your love line…” She mused, making me scowl.

“Just drop it already, she was a fraud.”

“She is not!” Rukia said, sounding highly affronted. “You know she is the one who helped Byakuya find me after my sister died.”

“Byakuya,” I said incredulously, “Went to a psychic?”

“Yes.” She glared at me a little though it was friendly. “And he found me.”

“A broken clock is correct two times a day.” I muttered and eyed her somewhat slightly. “Although I don’t know if finding you is a good thing or not…”

“Shut up.” She kicked me underneath the table and I winced. After we ate she had to go home because ‘nii-sama’ called and asked her to go home. I went home as well, mumbling vaguely to my mom and dad before going upstairs and collapsing onto my bed. I didn’t take a nap; I simply stared up at the ceiling while I thought over my situation. Maybe Shirosaki could be reasoned with, but I doubted that he would want to. He seemed to want me to be his killer, even if I presented him with evidence that said something else.

LINE

Ya-ha! I wonder what Yoruichi meant? =D