Work Text:
Ichigo enjoyed many things. There was a series of videogames he had been playing since he was a kid, though he had never bought any of the brand merchandise paraphernalia relating to the games. He religiously bought JUMP every week to read the latest chapters of the several manga he liked, though he never collected the actual tankoubon volumes when they came out. There were several bands he liked, but none quite so much as to camp out queueing for tickets for a live performance.
Games, manga and music were ways to pass the time, they were things he enjoyed – but not quite to the degree that he would’ve considered himself a fan.
The only exception, a secret so closely guarded that only his family knew about it, was a TV series called Gotei 13, a supernatural action/adventure show centred on a Shinigami named Yukiko. Something about the premise and the characters of the series had just clicked with Ichigo, though the cool fighting scenes didn’t hurt either.
He was nestled on the the living room couch, ready and waiting for Gotei 13 to start, when his father appeared and ruined everything.
“Ichigo! Something urgent came up and I need to pop out. There’s a patient at the clinic I’ve already treated, could you discharge her? Have her sign the necessary forms and so forth, you know the drill.”
“I’m busy,” Ichigo snapped, intently staring at the TV. “Can’t Yuzu or Karin do it?”
“Your sisters need to be studying for their entrance exams,” his father huffed. “I’m counting on you, Ichigo!”
And with the slam of the front door he was gone.
Ichigo gritted his teeth in frustration. Just his luck, having to run an errand for his father just when Gotei 13 was about to start. He snatched the remote and pressed the button to record, before he reluctantly left the couch and dragged himself over to the clinic.
He grabbed a pen and usual the papers off his father’s desk and walked over to the bed curtained off at the other end. He yanked the curtain aside, his irked scowl locking with deep violet eyes.
The woman sat on the edge of the bed, idly waving her feet in the air.
Ichigo blanched and stared at her, his jaw growing slacker by the second.
“Hi there,” she greeted him cheerily, a small smile playing on her lips.
Ichigo’s lips parted, but managed only a small strangled sound that did not even remotely resemble a word.
“So, am I good to go?” she asked, tilting her head.
Ichigo’s wide-eyed stare continued to bore into her.
“Cat got your tongue?” she inquired, clearly amused.
Ichigo closed his mouth and opened it again, but still no sound came.
“You’re cute,” she chuckled, shaking her head. “Are those the papers I need to sign?”
As she held her delicate hand out to him, he finally managed a shocked, breathy “Yukiko.”
“It’s Rukia, actually,” she said. “Though I get that often – even when I’m not in the costume.” She glanced down at the black kimono and hakama.
“What… What happened?” Ichigo stammered, still trying to process the fact that Kuchiki Rukia, the actress who played the main character Yukiko in Gotei 13 was actually sitting right in front of him, in the flesh.
“We were filming a fight scene and one of the blows landed off the mark,” she shrugged. “My manager always make such a fuss, so he insisted I get my hand checked just in case even though the first aid people on site said it was just a sprain. This was the closest place, and a small private clinic like this lends privacy.”
“Does it hurt?”
“Not anymore, but thanks for asking. So, you watch the show, then? Are you a fan?”
“I… er…. Yeah.”
“Great!” Rukia grinned. “I love meeting fans.”
Ichigo’s throat grew dry and he could feel heat rushing to his face.
“What’s your name?” she asked.
Yup, his cheeks were definitely red now.
“Ichigo,” he replied, glancing away from those captivating violet eyes.
“What a sweet name. Now, Ichigo, I’d really love to stay and have a little chat, but I can’t really keep the film crew and all my co-workers waiting much longer.”
“Oh, right. Sorry.” Ichigo scratched the back of his head as he finally handed over the papers.
“It’s fine, no harm done,” she reassured him, flashing him a quick smile before she bent to fill out the form. “Here you go,” she said a moment later, passing the papers back to Ichigo.
“Thanks.” Ichigo glanced down at the paper and at the contact information of his favourite actress. “Could I see your health insurance card?”
“Of course.” Rukia dug around her bag for her wallet and held out the card for Ichigo to see.
“Thanks,” he said again, making sure the health insurance information on her form was correct. “We’ll send the bill to the address you provided. You’re free to go.”
She smiled and jumped off the bed. Ichigo tried not to stare as she stretched languidly.
Then, before she turned to leave, she laid her hand on his arm.
“It was nice to meet you, Ichigo. Thanks for taking care of me.”
She smiled at him, and his chest exploded with giddy flutter as he watched her walk away.