Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach. If I did, Ichigo and Rukia would have officially been together long ago.
I'm actually here, she thinks looking into his room.
She smiles as her eyes fall upon him. But the smile soon fades when she realizes how battered he is as he lies on his bed breathing hard.
"You see Kurosaki-kun, I came to say goodbye," she says and pauses.
"There are actually a lot of people I want to say goodbye to as well…Tatsuki-chan, Sado-kun, Ishida-kun and Kuchiki-san," she finishes and continues to look down at his face.
Oh! She suddenly gasps to herself.
She blinks her eyes, not knowing what to do for a second. Then her lips slowly give way to a small smile.
"I see. Yuzu-chan and Karin-chan had their dinner here tonight. That's right. Kurosaki-kun hasn't been around so they must have been lonely. Of course they would want to have their dinner together with Kurosaki-kun in Kurosaki-kun's room."
It suddenly dawns on her.
Kurosaki-kun's room…
Her cheeks redden as she looks up from his sleeping sisters to gaze around the room she is in.
Come to think of it, this is the first time I've ever been in Kurosaki-kun's room…
It smells like Kurosaki-kun…
She hears a soft mumble and her eyes fall upon him once again.
His lips are moving…
She bends down to be closer to him. She hesitates, but then slowly puts her hand over his bandaged one. She slowly inches her face towards his. And still, his lips mumble incoherent whispers.
His lips…
She pushes her hand into his. Her lips move closer until they are but an inch away from his.
And then she hears it.
"Rukia…"
Barely audible, but she hears it.
She pulls back, tears streaming down her cheeks. She knows. She has always known.