1. When time fades away

There once was a house filled with love. There was a man so strong, a woman so kind, and two girls so joyous: Gold Locks and Little Red. But one day, the woman left, for her duty called.

She did not return.

A house of love became one of sadness. That was until Gold Locks thought of an idea so grand. She and Little Red would find the woman. Surely they could, for Gold was brave and Red loyal. Pulling a wagon with all her might, Gold Locks carried her little girl to find the woman.

So Little Red slept and dreamt good dreams of cookies, laughter, and warm hugs between the man and woman. Little Red awoke as she heard her Gold Locks gasp. Opening eyes of silver and curiosity, she quivered.

In Gold Lock's path, shadows so horrid sprung forth. Each shadow was armed with fangs and claws. As their courage waned, more and more shadows eclipsed their path. Gleeful red eyes stared them down in ravenous spite and desire.

And so they jumped, Gold Locks flinched and Little Red cried. Gold Locks, oh so brave but oh so weak, could not turn the tides as the shadows overran them and took one girl from the other. Little Red could see nothing but the shadows as darkness swallowed her whole.

Sad Little Red could faintly see her Gold run towards her shouting pleas in desperation.

But it was for naught. Little Red was swallowed into the abyss and Brave Gold Locks would become heartbroken. The girl of red cried heavy tears as she sank into the painful, dark, and lonely abyss. She fell and fell and fell some more before she was crushed by the ground.

And so Ruby Rose was startled awake. Blinking burning eyes, she saw her notebook and pencil laying askew on her lap. Her back was supported by a soft and warm wall that she couldn't help but snuggle into. Faintly, she heard the sedate beating of a heart.

"Five minutes, a new record, shorty", a deep gruff voice announced from above her. The tremble of his voice tickling her back. While there was clear annoyance and sarcasm lacing his tone, there was an undercurrent of concern. Well, only if one knew where to search.

Ruby chuckled nervously as she attempted to shrug innocently, "Oops?" She felt a smidge guilty for wasting his time considering that he had been willing to tutor her a bit.

She felt his prominent glare increase and bear down on her. Anxiously, she looked up. Past the vibrant orange hair, she saw intense dark eyes behind his stylish glasses. His lips were thin and eyes narrowed. She fluttered her eyes.

Ichigo Kurosaki sighed tiredly. "You're the one that sucks at History. Never mind, I knew this was going to happen anyway", he muttered as he adjusted Ruby in between his legs. "Nervous?" The teen asked as in an unusually soft voice.

Ruby looked down with a difficult expression as she grimaced. "Just a little bit", she said shyly. Admitting things such as this always made her feel awkward.

"Just a little?" Ichigo asked with no accusation.

"Ok, maybe a lot", she finally admitted. "What if Kisuke can't figure anything out? I'm starting to think I'm crazy and desperate."

Ichigo put away his own text book as he rested his head atop of hers. "You're just getting cold feet. If nothing else, Kisuke is a freak at things like this. It's going to be ok."

Ruby frowned as she faced him, while riddled with insecurity, "But, a whole world with shadow monsters? That's a little on the crazy side."

"We've been to multiple worlds already", Ichigo pointed out amusedly.

She didn't appreciate the humor and she moved unto his lap as she smacked him on the chest, "This is serious. Besides it isn't the same. Spirit Society is the afterlife and Hallow land isn't really a world. I'm probably making up a whole planet, a whole family. What orphan doesn't want to have a family?"

He grunted in agreement to the notion. Huffing lightly, he pulled Ruby into a hug. Gently, he stroked her dark hair and twirled his fingers against the red fridges of her hair. "We'll find your family. This isn't like you Ruby. Pessimism doesn't suit you, that's my thing. Take your own advice, smile a little, weapon dork."

She pouted a little at that. "Hey! I'm not a weapon dork! I just have an appreciation for the finer things in life."

Ichigo rolled his eyes, "A little kid shouldn't be dazzled by brass knuckles."

"And you were being so sweet too", she complained playfully. "Thanks", she said sincerely.

"If you two are done being lovey dovey, get in here", a confident voice called out. At the door was the figure of one of Ichigo's little sisters, Karin.

Ruby giggled as Ichigo lifted her off his lap. "You need us?" Ruby asked.

"Times a wasting", the energetic Kurosaki stated as she pulled Ruby by the hands. Ichigo followed sedately.

As they reached the door to the dining room, Karin pushed her in first.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" A group of her friends cried out. In the mix was Orihime, Sado, Uryu, Tatsuki and some of her own classmates.

Ruby looked flabbergasted, "It is my birthday." She had been so concerned about the Kisuke issue that it had escaped her mind. She snapped her fingers, "That's why you let me sleep."

"We're going back to studying after this." His tone allowed no room for argument.

"Aah man", Ruby whined, causing Ichigo's other sister, Karin, to giggle.

"IIICCCHHIIIGGGOOO!" A boisterous voice roared as it raced towards Ichigo.

Seeing the drop kick from a mile away, Ichigo ducked underneath the feet, clutched the ankle and slammed the man into the ground, face first.

"Mr. Kurosaki, are you alright?" Ruby asked in a panic as she kneed down towards Ichigo's father's fallen form.

Said man held her hands as tears rain down his face, "Sweet daughter-in-law, Ichigo hurt me. Scold him." Near the end of his request, he was began whining like a child.

Ichigo slammed his right foot on his father's back, "Don't whine to her, she's not the boss of me."

"Ichigo, Ichigo, Ichigo, you foolish son. Every girlfriend is the boss of their significant other."

Ichigo grew angrier as he saw his father's smug appearance.

"Make a wish, Ruby", Yuzu instructed excitedly.

Smiling, she walked up to the chocolate cake with her name written in cream. Breathing in, she blew out all sixteen of her candles.

"What did you wish for?" Yuzu asked.

Ruby looked to Ichigo and tried to look as teary eyed as possible.

"No."

"Pretty please."

"The answer's still no. Stop looking at me like that."

"I'll love you forever~."

"You aren't getting my sword."

"Oh, sweet wife, my horrid son is so cruel to me and his beloved. When did he get so selfish!?" Ichigo's father cried as he prostrated to the portrait of the late Kurosaki matriarch.

Ichigo looked frustrated, Karin embarrassed, and Yuzu sighed.

Ruby smiled. Even if they weren't her family by blood, the Kurosaki household had always welcomed her with open arms. She felt the strong callused hand of Ichigo resting on her shoulder. A somehow gentle smirk plastered on his face as though he felt her concern.

"Happy birthday to you Ruby, my former employee", Kisuke said in sing song as he entered the room. His fan covered the bottom portion of his face. In his free hand was a nicely wrapped gift. "This is for you. Do come to the shop tomorrow, I believe you'll be quite pleased."

Ruby's smile grew radiant, "Thank you so much!" She ran and squeezed the man tightly in a hug.

"It was my pleasure", he said genuinely for a change. Patting the girl on the back, he waved smugly at the orange haired teen, "Jealous, Ichigo? It seems she's on to better things."

"Cute", Ichigo said with gritted teeth. While he wasn't jealous exactly, he was annoyed by the grieve he got from select people when they found out about his relationship with Ruby. "I haven't heard that one before", he said sarcastically. Still he was happy for Ruby, so he would let the man get his jokes in without retaliation.

Today.

...

Author's Note:

New story alert. This was just one of the numerous ideas that randomly popped into my head. I planned for this one to be a short story.

If the readers don't mind could you tell me if the interaction between Ruby and Ichigo was both organic and true to their characters?

Also how was the beginning dream sequence? I tried to make it fairy tale like, did I succeed? Do keep in mind that it was a dream passed on her memories from a very young age, there are some intentionally missing information.

Please remember to review, I love the feedback. And if you have the time, check out some of my other stories.