Disclaimer: As sad as it is, I do not own the rights to Bleach. Tite Kubo does. This is only merely a fanfiction.

I'm Looking Through You

Chapter One: Solitude

The essence of cherry blossoms flowed through the air as he reluctantly looked up to the blue sky. Clouds were scattered here and there, but otherwise it was a fantastic, sunny day. He watched with a scowl as everyone around him was enjoying the weather, enjoying themselves. Oh, how he envied them.

But, Ichigo's days lately were anything but enjoyable, the last week he has felt lonelier than ever before. At first he couldn't figure out what it was, it wasn't the loss of his Soul Reaper powers. Ichigo was relieved to finally be able to live a normal life, without the constant burden of being aware of the supernatural.

He just couldn't seem to figure it out. The emptiness was made by the loss of something else, something that he couldn't seem to live without. Whatever it was, it sure did rub Ichigo the wrong way. And everyone knew.

"Sooo…Ichigo", a voice said to him, his thoughts interrupted as he looked over to where the voice came from. And of course it was Keigo. "when are you gonna get over Rukia? Or are you just going to sulk around all the time?"

Ichigo's eyes narrowed, 'That's it!' he thought to himself. 'But…I couldn't he couldn't miss Rukia, that's just' he cringed at the thought, 'Weird.' But then a flourishing of memories went through his mind, and Ichigo realized it was indeed true.

The main memories that hit him where it counts were of her holding a juice box with a confused, but determined expression staring back at him. Or looking to the now vacant seat to the right of his desk where she would draw all those crappy drawings she liked doodle, making an expression of self-pride every time she completed one. And most importantly, the day he first looked into her eyes, the day he first became a Soul Reaper.

The aching in his heart sent a tremor that reverberated to his very core. All he could do was sulk. She wasn't dead, but she mind as well had been. The accompaniment of his friends only made him want her more; he would never be the same without her by his side.

Right then, he realized how much Rukia really meant to him. He couldn't help but feel stupid, he wasted almost 3 years, 3 years dammit.

After everything that happened, he was expected to forget, as if it had never even occurred. The thought made his blood boil, his eyes jerk open, and his chest hurt. If only he realized how much she meant to him, before she dissipated before his eyes.

But it wasn't just the loss of his companion that troubled Ichigo, he now realized it did include the loss of his Soul Reaper abilities. He couldn't even sense a hint of spiritual pressure, nor is he able to battle Hollows. He couldn't see any souls, and he couldn't see Soul Reapers, which meant…..no Rukia.

The only remnant of his past abilities was the Substitute Soul Reaper badge that now resembled nothing more than a useless piece of wood. 'No, the badge wasn't useless, I'm useless,' he thought to himself, 'and unable to protect anyone I care about.' It truly made him hate himself.

Suddenly Ichigo was plunged back into reality due to the persistent bantering of his friend Keigo, "…Ichigo. Ichigo! Oh come on! Are you even listening to what I'm saying?! You've been such a space cadet lately!", hollered Keigo, with a frustrated look on his face.

Ichigo looked back towards his friend, a scowl still prominent on his face. "Sorry about that...I was lost in thought", he muttered quietly, before looking back off of the rooftop, then returning his gaze to Keigo, doing his best to try to and look interested in what his obnoxious friend had to tell him, "What were you saying?"

Keigo grimaced and cried, "Oh forget it!", and fell to his knees and pulled at Ichigo's shirt, then continues, "Why doesn't anyone listen to me?! Why?! why….", before collapsing to the ground in a cloud of dust.

Ichigo barely paid any attention to Keigo, it was his daily routine. He looked over to his friend Uryu, who was walking towards him to ask, "Hey Ichigo, are you going to eat that or just hold it in your hand?" Ichigo looked down at the sandwich in his hand, completely forgetting that it was there.

"Oh, right.. Yeah, I am, I'm just savoring every bite." He replied, chuckling slightly, before proceeding to take a bite of his food.

Uryu gave him a quizzical look and said, "Well, while you're at it you should quit the brooding you're doing. It's really dulling the air around here."

Ichigo's scowl deepened and he retorted, "I'm not brooding dammit!"

Uryu smirked, "Could've fooled me." He replied, which was followed by a scoff from Ichigo.

Mizuiro agreed with Uryu by saying, "You're definitely brooding , Ichigo." Uryu made a subtle giggle and said, "He doesn't even have to look up from his phone to notice."

Mizuiro made a snicker, still staring at his phone.

"Okay, maybe I am brooding. It's not like it's any of your business Uryu." Ichigo countered.

"Well, sorry I was concerned then. It's just really annoying seeing someone in such a horrible mood on a day like this." He said, gazing up at the blue sky.

Ichigo made a bewildered face, and asked "Since when are you the 'sunshiney hippity hoppity' type guy? You're the most eccentric out of everyone here to be honest."

Uryu glowered at the remark, and shouted "What's that supposed to mean?" clinching his fists.

Ichigo laughed at how offended Uryu was, "Now look who's getting all flustered."

All the sudden, Uryu's neck stiffened and he whispered to Ichigo, "Duty calls, I'll be back in a bit."

Ichigo watched as he ran over to Chad and Orihime and whispered something to them before they all bolted down the roof access; he knew they were going to fight a hollow.

Mizuiro looked up from his phone to pay attention to Keigo's overly-exaggerated performance, and he nonchalantly mumbled "Mr. Asano, you're doing it again." But his words held no value to Keigo's pleas of attention.

He rolled his eyes, and looked back down to Keigo. "We need to work on our History project anyways, unless you think that we're going to be accomplishing something with you flailing yourself around on the ground, I suggest we go and actually work on it."

Keigo reluctantly picked himself up along with a few whimpers. Mizuiro glanced over at Ichigo, and said "You can come along if you want. It isn't too nice being up here alone, it's pretty depressing to say the least." He forced a slight chuckle to try and lighten the atmosphere.

Ichigo's scowl had ceased to be replaced by a small smirk, and replied "I appreciate the offer, but I'll be fine up here," he paused and turned away from them, "Thanks for the consideration."

Mizuiro looked at his gloomy friend, and sighed, and said, "If that's what you want then", he then turned on his heel and ushered Keigo to follow. Ichigo was left alone on the rooftop, staring off into space…

He heard the door to the roof close, and Ichigo slightly eased onto an air conditioning unit. But he still felt someone's presence on the roof. As if he expected someone to be there, he glanced in the direction of it. However, to his dismay he only saw his bare and empty surroundings. He looked back down to the ground in shame before slamming his fist into the air conditioner and cursing.

Ichigo stayed in that position for at least ten minutes, he then muttered under his breath, "It isn't the same without you, Rukia..." Looking back in the direction of where he felt the presence, "I will regain my powers, and when I do…" He never finished his sentence, a few seconds later the lunch bell rang.

He very slowly gathered himself and left the rooftop, his scowl replaced by an expression of insentience. A pair of violet eyes watched him make his way to the roof access door, before narrowing as he slammed it shut behind him…