[drabble] Back to December
Title: Back to December
Author: Luna (dreamweavernyx )
Pairing: Ichiruki
Genre: Angst
Summary: Her apology comes too late.
Notes: Songfic based off Back to December (Taylor Swift).
For Anne (yuuki_7 )
~
I’m so glad you made time to see me
How’s life, tell me how’s your family
I haven’t seen them in a while…
A familiar pair of violet orbs looked straight at him, mirroring the shock he knew must be etched upon his face.
“Rukia,” he said, finding his voice at last, “what are you doing here?”
“I’ve got the week off.”
“…And so why did you come to my house, of all places?”
Rukia said nothing, tracing the wood grain of the kitchen table with a small smile. Throwing his arms up in defeat, Ichigo went to the fridge and took out a juice box for her.
She accepted it with a murmur of thanks, before sticking in the straw and sipping.
You’ve been good, busier than ever
We small talk, work and the weather
“So…how is your new position?”
Rukia sighed.
“It’s rather frustrating, really. Captain Ukitake is always on sick leave, so I end up with his load of paperwork as well as my own as a vice-captain. And Kiyone and Sentaro won’t stop arguing and fighting with each other too…I think I’ve had to replace seven doors already!”
Ichigo grinned and leaned back in his chair.
“Sounds awful.”
He chose his words carefully, making sure that nothing would remind him of that memory locked away deep in his mind.
Your guard is up and I know why
‘Cause the last time you saw me
Is still burned in the back of your mind
Rukia could feel Ichigo’s gaze on her, and she thought she could still feel the hurt emanating from them, just like how they did two months ago.
Two months ago, when they had parted.
She had been promoted to the vice-captain of the Thirteenth Division, and thus ordered to return to Soul Society to serve there. Her original duty of protecting Karakura town would be passed to another low-ranked shinigami.
You gave me roses…
“I love you,” he had whispered, reaching out to touch her hand one last time before she stepped out of her gigai and walked into the Senkaimon.
…and I left them there to die
She had looked at him piercingly, before turning away, not seeing his face fall at the rejection.
Instead, she had disappeared through the Senkaimon, leaving him all alone in the snow, hand still outstretched.
It was the coldest and most bitter Christmas Eve night Ichigo had ever known.
So this is me swallowing my pride
Standing in front of you
Saying “I’m sorry for that night”
But she could not forget the breaking she had seen in his eyes just before she turned away, or the feeling of hurt directed at her back. And it had compelled her to come back to Karakura, to the Kurosaki clinic, to this house full of bittersweet memories of halcyon days.
To come back and try to make amends.
Her hands twisted in her lap as she tried to form the right words to say.
It turns out freedom ain’t nothing but missing you
Wishing I’d realized what I had when you were mine
“A-about that night,” she finally choked out, “I’m…sorry.”
He glanced at her impassively.
“I’m sorry,” she repeated, bowing her head as tears start to fall at the memory of their parting.
I’d go back to December
Turn around and make it all right
“It’s okay,” he said quietly after a short pause, “there’s no need to apologise.”
She looked up at him, violet eyes wide.
“Huh?”
“That rejection…I’m not upset about it or anything,” he clarified, as she looked at him in surprise.
“…Because I don’t love you. Not anymore.”
I’d go back to December all the time.