Fork In The Road

Prologue

Disclaimer: I do NOT own Bleach!!

Summary: Sequel to Yesterday Once More IchiRuki. Ichigo went in the wrong direction. Can he find his way back to Rukia's path?

A hollow claw slashed through his shoulder. Mustering all his strength left, he struck the hollow with Zangetsu. It didn't work, and the hollow ripped through his other shoulder. "Dang it," Ichigo cursed under his breath. He was weak—so, so weak. Blacking out, he fell on the floor.

"Ichigo! Wake up! Ichigo, please, please wake up!" Rukia cried, running over, shaking him.

"Wake up, Ichigo, wake up!

…………………………………………

"Wake up, Ichigo, wake up!"

Ichigo groaned. His younger sister Yuzu was shaking him, telling him to wake up. "Ichigo, get up, you're going to be late for work!" Yuzu was now in university, and had matured a bit, although she still maintained her cuteness.

"What work? My work is right downstairs…"

Ichigo groggily blinked and rubbed his eyes. So…Rukia appeared in my dream. Again. Not surprising… ten years ago, Rukia had left back to Soul Society—again. This time, it was his fault for not following. He had decided to stay. He finished high school at Karakura High, and then went to one of the best universities in the country. Hard to believe, but it was true. He now had a Ph. D in medicine, and although he could've gotten a better job, he refused to move into the city to work. He didn't want to leave home…yet.

Sitting up, he stared out the window. Seeing the park down the block brought back memories of him and Rukia. Shit, Ichigo…pull yourself together! She's there and you're here. You two lead separate lives now. She's probably forgotten you by now…Ichigo shook his head and headed towards the shower.

Feeling the hot water droplets rain down on him, he breathed out a sigh of relief. For no particular reason, the shower relieved him. It was when he got deep into his thoughts. How am I going to find Rukia? I don't think she'll ever want to see me again…I was such a fool. A fool to let her go. Getting dressed in his uniform, he walked down into the kitchen. Yuzu, Karin and Isshin were already eating breakfast, and all three were arguing about whether banana, blueberry or chocolate pancakes were the best. Yuzu had made breakfast for them again. Hai…

"Plain pancakes are the best."

Startled, all three of them looked up at him. He peered at the pancakes. "There has to be a reason these pancakes are plain, right?"

Smirking, he sat down and helped himself to a few pancakes. Karin and Isshin glared at him, while Yuzu smiled at him, "That's a reasonable answer, Ichi-nii."

Yuzu was already 20, but still called him Ichi-nii. She was more mature and had a sweeter, kinder personality than Karin, who was stubborn like her father. How Yuzu reminded Ichigo of his mother.

"Right. So I'm going to go into the clinic now…see you all later," Isshin announced, walking into the room next door, he called, "Ichigo, hurry up and finish your pancakes!"

………………………………………………………..

Walking around the huge garden that surrounded all of the Kuchiki household, a certain violet eyed female shinigami was observing the cherry blossom trees. That one is very pretty. It's the only one that has bloomed. She continued her walk around the huge area until she came to the outside of her room.

Sitting down on the wood floor, she stared at the sunrise. How beautiful it was. It was the little things like this that made life worth living. Seeing sunrises reminded her that today was going to be a fresh day. She was not going to waste a single day as long as she was alive. Ichigo would have loved being here with me and seeing the sunset. He always did have a certain liking towards the beautiful colors. It was always so magical… Rukia stopped herself. She refused to think of him. It didn't hurt as much now, because she knew one day he would come find her. If he didn't…Rukia knew he would try. Rukia knew he loved her. Until he did come to her, she wasn't going to get her hopes up high.

Kuchiki Byakuya secretly observed his younger sister. He hadn't aged over the years, neither had Rukia. He was still as sharp and observant as before. Thinking about Ichigo again. Rukia really does care for him. An idea popped into his head. Grabbing a piece of rice paper on his desk, he began to write in quick fluid strokes.

Ichigo would have a surprise.

A/N: Ichigo IS 25 in my fic, and after reading my reviews, I edited Yuzu's age to 20. Thanks for the pointers!