NOTE: I dont own bleach or the characters invloved in this story, as you may already know, but just to make things clear

The last seventeen months have been hell for me, not being able to protect karakura town from evil spirits known as hollows, knowing that my friends are doing the job I should have done, most of all, not seeing her again. Rukia Kuchiki. The soul reaper, no the person, who changed my life forever, I couldn't see her, but she could see me. I wonder what she is up to. well I hope to see her soon, because after all of this I miss the midget. My midget.

The alarm clock in Ichigo's room went off earlier than usual, and ichigo cracked one eye open to look at it

" Monday already? What the hell." Ichigo blurted in a soft slightly muffled voice as he hit the off button for his alarm. "Ugh damn if it wasn't spirit week id go back to sleep. F-fuck…"

Ichigo got up lazily out of bed, wearing only spandex shorts and basketball shorts over them as he proceded half awake to the door to his room and down the hall to the bathroom. He changed a bit since that fateful day 17 months ago, he was taller, almost 6 feet tall now, he grew out his hair more, where his bangs nearly fall over his eyes, and his face took on a more mature look.

He started up the shower so he had hot water when he got in, and took his time showering up thinking back on this last year and a half, and now the current time set.

Spirit week, the most lively week out of any week in the whole school year, besides the last week of school. Where everyone was in themed attire corresponding to the day it was. Ichigo Kurosaki, now a senior in high school and 17 years old, has to dress up, it's a tradition that the seniors show leadership throughout the week setting the example for freshmen through juniors in the future.

It just so happens Monday.

" Costume day, great what am I gonna wear for a costume, I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING!" Ichigo shouted in frustration, only to stop and listen to a voice from outside his room.

"HEY you idiot brother shut up already, if you would have not forgotten and realized already the costume is hanging over your bed post, now get ready we need to go soon!" a teen age girls voice pierced right through the walls of his room, it was Karin his younger sister.

Karin is now 13 years old, and trying to transcend through her first year of her teenage years. Not only that she is in 8th grade now and is the best female striker the school has ever seen on the girls soccer team. Her twin sister yuzu kurosaki, is also in 8th grade, but she is like a polar opposite of her twin sister, she doesn't have many classes with Karin, who would have thought ever that she still likes to cook after these years.

Ichigo turned his attention towards his bed post where there is a black kimono with a long, slim black and red coat with the right arm sleeve torn off, and next to that a black wooden sword with a long chain attacked to the end of the grip with a pinup at the end of the chain.

He picked up the sword, for a moment he could've swore it was tensa zangetsu, He got dressed in the attire and he looked at himself in the mirror, he looked like his former self from 18 months ago. The memories of his fierce battles raged through his head then.

"hmmm, ya know this isn't too bad," ichigo stated with a slight smile. His look brought back memories of all the adventures he had back to when he rescued rukia from execution. From then on its all his mind was wrapped around, Rukia, her raven hair and deep violet eyes that he liked so much, her eyes, I miss those the most. I miss her entirely, what the, what's going on with me, I cant stop thinking about her

He proceeded down stairs, the fake sword hanging off his wrist while the chain was wrapped completely up his arm and attached to his undershirt. He smirked at the slight clanking noise the chain made around his arm. His family, turning around to look at him, were in shock of the costume, especially isshin.

"Wow son you look great, and warrior like." Isshin blurted out smirking. "But.. YOU STILL WONT BE ABLE TO DEFEND AGAINST THIS GRAAAAAAAA!" swinging a rolling pin at him

Ichigo grabbed the rolling pin and hit his father in the face hard with the sword sending isshin spiraling to the ground.

"dad I swear you never learn do ya, besides I got this costume because it's the only thing I could find that I didn't fully hate!" Ichigo angrily stated. "Now if you excuse me! Karin, Yuzu time to go to school lets go!"

Ichigo grabbed a piece of toast and ate it before he reached his car, a special gift from his father, a blue dodge challenger. Yuzu and Karin fought over the front seat like usual until Ichigo told them to quit it and yuzu got in the back and Karin got in the front. Ichigo opened the garage door and started the American Muscle car letting the noise of its V8 engine fill the air.

Ichigo smiled "something about today makes me think something amazing might happen." As he hit the accelerator, the car released a thunderous roar as it left garage

Ichigo was down the street when a girl in a black kimono appeared sitting on Ichigo's window sill, she looked up and said "I know it will be an amazing day strawberry." She disappeared from the window with a smile.

Uryu, Chad and Orihime were sitting on a bench outside the high school talking about their crazy costume ideas they came up with, besides chad of course. They sat and watched as people went by into the school, flustered in the schools colors of white blue and red. They look up to notice Ichigo parking his new car stepping out, and walking towards them.

"Oi, Uryu, Chad, Orihime, hows it going, I like the outfits, pretty creative." Ichigo said knowing he was holding back a little chuckle. "definitely better than my outfit

Uryu's costume was a 1920's Chicago gangster he did look pretty well devious in it, Chad dressed up into a hippie, quite unlike him actually, and Orihime's costume was a robot dinosaur, oh the creative mind of Orihime. Ichigo thought.

"ichigo? I see your costume resembles your old bankai, I thought as much, that look brings back a lot of memories, most of them aren't always good." Uryu said.

Orihime, thought otherwise, she thought of when they stood hand in hand in hueco mundo after he defeated Grimmjow. It Makes me wonder did rukia feel that way when Ichigo saved her or was there something more?

Just then the bell rang signaling for school to start soon, as Orihime Chad and Uryu stood up from the bench to head to class Ichigo followed but then something struck him mentally as he stood still and looked around, what in the blue hell is this feeling, it's a feeling I haven't gotten since Ruk- Bah who am I kidding it couldn't be her, but damn I cant stop thinking of her

Ichigo made it to class barely a minute late. The teacher didn't scold him for being late it was just a few seconds right, as the teacher began attendance she announced the return of a exchange student that will finish her schooling here in karakura high.

"Class id like to have your attention once more, we will be having one more exchange student coming in soon, if not today then tomorrow, His name is Jack and he is transferring from California," The teacher implied, serious on the issue because he is new and the class is expected to treat him with respect.

Ichigo didn't listen to a word that was said, he just stared out the window, and playing with his substitute shinigami badge in his hands. As he stared he couldn't stop thinking of her. Only if I could see her just once, please let it be soon, I cant stand it, no matter how hard I try my mind cannot get away from the thought of her, what does this mean. Rukia where are you?

Class came and ended and so Ichigo and friends proceeded outside for lunch, Ichigo was slow to get out, his head down eyes looking at the ground, thinking of that day, the last time they looked at each other although he hid his true emotion about it, but it killed him inside, almost as if a chunk of his heart had been torn away that day, and he felt empty and hollow.

He Caught up with the rest of his friends, and Orihime knew something was bothering him, she got up and sat next to him putting a hand on his shoulder as he rested his head on his left hand, his elbow on the table.

"Are you ok Ichigo," Orihime asked in a soft and worried tone. "Is something troubling you?"

Ichigo didn't say anything, he didn't even gesture, until, "Nah im fine, just thinking is all, It's a great day outside, but thanks Orihime, I appreciate it."

He spoke those words not in a reassuring tone, but more like a soft sad tone, he knew what was bugging him, he didn't want to admit it. He knows what is going on but he doesn't want to say it. He wants to see her again but doesn't know how.

What do I have to do, what more do I need to go through to get her back. As he got up and walked away from the group, he felt a tear run down his face.

Just then Orihime looked back at Ichigo saddened, as the group got up and left to start their next class. Uryu on the other hand was in speculation, did I just detect a spark of rashi in him?