My first story, kinda new to this so please bear with me.

Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach. (and if I did, I'd probably butcher it beyond recognition)

Set in a world where there are no Shinigami, Hollows and all that jazz.

Words in Italic stand for flashbacks.

Underlined words stand for thoughts.

&a& Indicates change of scene/ timeskip or POV.


The rain seemed to mock Ichigo as it pelted down, as if saying, there's nothing to stop it now, no one to make the rain; both in and out go away. Sitting in his apartment, he was suddenly jolted out of his reverie by a succession of knocks at the door. Knock-knock-knock. "Hold on, I'll be there in a second," Ichigo called out as he raised himself off the chair and made his way towards the door muttering to himself as he did so.

KNOCK-KNOCK-KNOCK. Another set of knocks, this time more urgent and loud.

"Hold your fucking horses, why don't you," he grumbled. Swinging open the door, he wearily stated, "I'm not interested, go somewhere else to sell your shi…Rukia? What are you doing here?" Ichigo asked, watching wide-eyed as a soaked, red-eyed yet immaculately dressed Rukia Kuchiki invited herself into his small two roomed apartment.

"OI, Midget, I never said you could come inside…..HOLY MOTHER OF GOD THAT HURTS LIKE SHIT!" as Rukia delivered a full on kick into his Solar plexus, sending Ichigo flying into his apartment wall.

&a&

A few minutes later, Rukia had dried off and was sitting in his living room, next to the heater, watching the rain as it continued to fall.

"So, why didja come now midget?" after setting down a cup of hot tea in front of her…BAM….and earning a nice bruise on his shoulder for the midget comment.

"Idiot…"

They sat there, in silence just enjoying the other's company until Rukia decided to speak up.

"Ichigo, it's been a while, hasn't it? Two months since…."

"Since…that time." Ichigo finished with a sad look on his face

&a&

It was time.

In just two hours, Rukia would get married to a man she didn't even know, a man chosen by the Kuchiki clan. And Ichigo would be there, watching as his best friend and lover was torn from him.

Standing in the chapel, he wandered the corridors meaninglessly, looking around him as if not believing what he was seeing.

"Ichigo." At the sound of his name, he turned to face the speaker and almost had a heart attack.

Rukia stood before him in the chapel, wearing a strapless pure white wedding dress, exposing her shoulders and most of her neck. Nestled in her hair was a small white flower, contrasting beautifully with her dark hair.

"Fool! You have a job to do, do you not? You're going to be playing my w-wedding song. Aren't you supposed to be getting ready to play, or to do something or to...t-to…"

"Sigh, Rukia…stop, you don't have to go through with this."

"No, you're wrong Ichigo, I do, for the Kuchiki clan, for nii-sama, for…"

"I don't give a fuck, it's your life! You shouldn't have to do this for anyone, not Byakuya's and most definitely not the fucking Kuchiki clan. We can still stop this, I'll go talk to Byakuya now, I'll ask him to break off the engagement."

"NO! Don't Ichigo, please, don't give him more reason to send you away once this is done…I wouldn't know what to do if I didn't have someone to talk to, someone to be there for me, someone…t-to j-just…"

"Shhh," Ichigo said as he pulled her into a warm embrace. "Don't cry Rukia, I'm sorry, please don't cry…it's not worth crying over."

"I-Ichigo?"

"Yeah?"

"I love you." Rukia sobbed into his jacketless tuxedo. (AN)

"Love you too midget," he replied, which while it successfully managed to stop Rukia's tears, it also earned him a nice kick to the shins.

"OW, fuck Rukia, I was trying to be nice."

At that, Rukia had to crack a smile. "Ichigo…"

"Are you sure Rukia? I'll only ask this one last time."

"Yes…I owe it to nii-sama at the very least…"
"Then I've got your back Rukia, always."

"Thanks, idiot."

&a&

He had to say, Rukia did look stunning in her wedding dress as she walked down the aisle towards her groom, Aizen Sosuke. Ichigo hadn't even known the man until one hour ago, but he already hated him.

His cold attitude towards Rukia, his condescending nature and the fact that he treated this whole thing the same way one would a business deal, just served to paint him as even more of a bastard in Ichigo's eyes.

Apart from that, all he knew of the man boiled down to the fact that he came from a ridiculously rich family and was being married to Rukia in order to make both Aizen's family and the Kuchiki family richer.

Rukia deserved better, someone to love her, someone who would hold her when she had a bad dream, someone to comfort her when something goes wrong, someone who would worship her like the goddess she is.

But Ichigo didn't say anything, instead, unclenching his hands from the fists they had formed, turning facing the piano, and launching into Wagner's March(AN 2), determined to make Rukia happy, even if this was an arranged marriage. However, as he continued to play, a second, more alluring melody could be heard, as he abruptly changed the tune he was playing and let the music take over…

&a&

Rukia made it halfway down the aisle struggling not to cry, Byakuya at her side, as she basked in Ichigo's music and remembered all the times he sat with her and played her favorite songs for her, to avoid embarrassing not only herself but the entire clan by breaking down on her wedding day. Closing her eyes and focusing on the music, she was surprised to discover the dry melody of her Wedding March slowly phasing out and changing into something more familiar…

Her eyes snapped open at her sudden realization. ICHIGO, NO!

&a&

"I missed you for those last two years…Ichigo."

"I know midget, I know. I…missed you too."

"So, why? Where did you go? Where were you, when I needed you?"

Ichigo suddenly froze, not moving, not breathing and making no sound at all. This continued for almost three minutes, to the point where Rukia was worried he had gone into shock before he replied with just the slightest angry quaver in his otherwise too calm voice.

"Do you really want an answer to that…Rukia?"

Lightning flashed outside and the thunder roared as the heavens themselves appeared to weep.


AN - I really have no idea what to call that kind of suit so I called it a jacketless tux. If you want to get a better idea of what Ichigo's suit looks like, google image taeyang wedding dress and it's the suit that he's wearing.

AN 2 - Wagner's march is the traditional Here comes the Bride Song.

So if anyone figures out what song Ichigo decided to play instead of Wagner's march, keep it to yourselves and let people who don't know figure it out on their own.

Other than that, I had fun writing this...I do have some idea of where I want it to go but suggestions are always appreciated, if you do wish to make a suggestion, PM me or leave a review.

I hope you had as much fun reading it as I did writing. See you at the next chapter!

Shikata-ga-nai3012