Where Life Takes You

By: Raven612

Chapter 1: A Child's Eyes

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Bleach characters, but sometimes I wish I did!

Pairings: Ich/Ru Ori/Uuryu Chad/Lily(made up char)

Summary: For now this story has nothing to do with the soul society, hollows, or any of that, for now, but that may change. Ichigo and Rukia were the best of friends when they were growing up together. One night Rukia and her family suddenly disappear and Ichigo is left heart broken. After Rukia leaves his life seems to fall apart, but a new guy in school reminds Ichigo of Rukia's older brother, and Ichigo wonders if his first true love is back or if it will end up in another brutal slap from fate.

The sun was shinning bright as two young children ran around a large grassy hill laughing and rolling. One of the kids is a tall boy with bright orange hair and the other is a shorter yet spunky girl with short black hair, and oddly only one strand seemed to be on her face at all times. A river flowed near them and they sat to throw rock into its depths.

"So Ichigo, do you think that we will be like this forever?" Rukia asked, she was always so serious and thought provoking, often being mistaken for a girl much older than 5 years.

"I don't know Rukia, why not just take life as it is and enjoy the moment?" he asked a cool smile on his face as he laced his hands behind his head and lay back into the grass.

Rukia laughed, "That sounds like something your mother would say," and she took her place lying next to Ichigo.

"That's because she did say that to me, the day I started kindergarten."

"Ichigo you sound so funny," Rukia said laughing.

"Hey, don't you laugh at me Rukia!" Ichigo said tersely.

"Sorry Ichigo, but it's so funny, you sound older than you are,"

"And so do you!" he countered.

"Do not!" she screamed back balling her tiny fists.

"Do too, stinky weasel!"

"I am not a stinky weasel, you are!" she screamed and pointed at his face driving her words home.

"Yeah well at least I'm not some stupid girl!" he yelled back pointing to her.

"At least I don't have stupid spiky orange hair!" she screamed as she turned on her heel and ran away.

Ichigo was left standing in rage. How dare she make fun of his hair, she knew he was very self conscious about it. His tiny fists pulsed as he stood there thinking about what had just went on. He slowly sunk to the grass and furiously threw rocks into the river.

Soon dusk set in and he knew his parents would get worried if he didn't show up at home for supper. Tearing himself away from the calming sounds of the river he walked the short distance to his home. Once he reached his front door a hand shot out of the darkness and grabbed him. The hand gave way to an arm and the arm gave way to a body. The body was much larger than Ichigo's and it demanded respect.

"I heard you made fun of my sister today Kurosaki," Rukia's older and much scarier older brother seethed.

Ichigo shuddered in terror, was this older boy going to beat him up?

"S-s-sorry…" Ichigo stammered.

"Sorry for what? She deserves it."Byakuya said laughing as he released Ichigo.

Ichigo always thought Byakuya was weird because of the way he wore his medium length hair. Ichigo always secretly made fun of him for wearing barrettes, but although he wore hair accessories the girls fell over themselves for him. He was 8 years old but acted like he was 40 years old. He was always cool and collected, but he was also a ferocious fighter. In a way Ichigo envied Rukia for her brother, he protected her and taught her to fight.

"So you're not going to kill me?" Ichigo asked sheepishly.

"Naw, not now anyways, but if you break my sisters heart, then I'll break your bones." Byakuya said smiling.

"Pheesh, I could take you any day," Ichigo countered.

"Oh yeah Kurosaki," Byakuya asked stone cold.

"Name the time and place," Ichigo sneered.

"I have no reason to fight you, for now." Byakuya said as he turned and walked across the street to his house.

"No reason, or are you scared?" Ichigo screamed after his retreating form. He didn't know what and come over him but he suddenly felt powerful and at that moment he wanted to take it out on Byakuya.

Byakuya ignored him as he entered his house and Ichigo turned to do the same. That night after dinner he lay in his bed, his hands laced behind his head. He lay with his window open and the curtains gently bellowed. He sat up and looked out across the way and into Rukia's window. Her light was on but Ichigo could not see through them. He felt bad for what he said earlier that day, so tomorrow he would set out to make it right.

Early the next day Ichigo rapped on Rukia's door, he was half expecting her brother or her parents to answer but it was Rukia. She greeted him with a large warm smile.

"Hey Ichi," she said sweetly.

"Uh hi Rukia," he said scratching the back of his head in confusion.

"Let's go play," Rukia said as she grabbed his hand and rushed out the door dragging him along.

They spent the rest of the day playing and laughing, arguing, making up and sitting and talking.

"Hey Ichigo," Rukia said suddenly serious stopping their game of tag.

"Yeah Rukia," Ichigo asked quizzically.

"Promise me that if something were to ever happen you would never forget me." She said looking straight into his eyes.

Ichigo smiled and ruffled her short raven black hair; he was much taller than her although they were the same age. "Of course not Ruki, you're my very bestest friend." He laughed trying to ease the tension.

"Seriously Ichigo, promise, I know I will never forget you."

"Okay Rukia I swear it, I will never ever forget you."

"Good," and with that Rukia suddenly turned and ran away.

Ichigo ran after her but he couldn't catch up to her. When he reached her house it looked deserted and as if no one lived there for years. He pounded on the door, the windows and tried to break it. But all the lights were off and from what he could spy through the windows, strangely the furniture was all still in the house.

The next day Ichigo awoke to the loud noises of a truck, he looked out his window and noticed a moving van taking all the Kuchiki's furniture. Ichigo quickly ran outside to watch. When he saw Rukia's play box being taken he lost it. With tears falling he ran to the movers.

"No!" he screamed as he ran, he grabbed for the moving men's arms but fell short. Startled the men stopped and lowered the play box.

"What's tha matter kid?" One of the men asked.

"You're taking her stuff, why?" Ichigo asked. A door slammed behind him. It was his mother coming to comfort him. Before his mom reached him he tore open the play box and took out a stuffed lion. He clutched it to his chest and as his mother picked him up, apologized to the moving men, and took him back home. Ichigo made a solemn promise, that no matter what he would find Rukia and God help him he would not forget her.

A/N: So what did you guys think? This is my first Bleach Ficcy, but I got inspired while I was reading other fics. Umh this is the first fan fic that I wrote without it being the same as the anime, book, or tv show. But I decided to step outside of my box and try this OCCish fic. Well review please!!!!