This story is placed right after the Bount Arc, which is from Episode 109. I will basically be writing from here, so anything in 110 – Current isn't valid, of course. It's just what happens from 109. This is where the fiction begins.

So basically this is my first Rukia x Ichigo. I love this couple, they complete each other. I will try to keep their personalities like in the series, but a little bit more romantic. Because in the series Ichigo is a little bit more unresponsive, and stuff around them makes them throw off romantic instances with comic relief and weird faces.

Italics - Thoughts.

[Boxed In - Location

Asterisk - Point of view

[Soul Society – Kuchiki Sector Rukia

The moon shined its silver light through the paper doors, lighting up the mahogany flooring. The Kuchiki home was one of great luxury, since the owner was a powerful, respected captain. A figure lies awake under the cotton sheets, breathing quietly. The pearl white covers conformed to the shape of her body, all the way up to her head. Her eyes were still closed, as she was in deep thought.

That's what I should think, shouldn't I?

Rukia lifted her eyes just a little, revealing the beautiful lavender color underneath. They glistened in the moon light, like the mahogany wood around her.

'Stay here in Soul Society' is what he would have said. Even if I wanted to go….no…I didn't want to go. I didn't want to…

Very light tears began to build in her eyes, only to be wiped away by her hand, with the blanket over it.

Stay…I didn't want to stay here. I should have gone but…they wouldn't let me. My brother dislikes Ichigo…Ichigo…And Renji might have been hurt that I…

She took a deep breath, and then removed the covers of the bed. She stood up, in the white robe that she was wearing. She took four quiet steps forward, each near silent. Sounds of crickets and other insects were clearly sounded at her as she opened the paper door. The smell of water was abundant, like it was a completely different world from inside. She closed the door behind her and sat herself on the walkway edge. The walkway was just like inside, a fine mahogany, polished with the finest of the oils in Seireiti. The area around it had many plants, beautiful to the eyes.

In the center lied a small pond, lavished with plants and bugs. On the water, a perfect reflection of the moon. It was full tonight, and square in the sky. There was not a cloud in the sky, and only peace was there.

The reflection is like the real world. Just like us, but you can't touch the other.

Rukia placed her hands on her lap, looking down.

Heh, Ichigo…always protects. Without reason. Though…when we first met…

[Memory: Kurakara City, the park Rukia

"Wait!?" Rukia shouted, stopping him. "Why should you save him? That child is a total stranger, isn't he?"

Ichigo looked to boy, as he was being chased by the Hollow. There was a fearsome look about the Hollow, with the same bland mask that they were all graced with. Its body was like a Spider, crawling quickly to its prey. The soul of a mere boy, 8, maybe 9 years old. Ichigo growled at his own indecisive nature.

"That doesn't mean I can just not save him!"He yelled back. "Not when he's being attacked right before my eyes!"

Rukia raised her arm, pointing to the Hollow and the Child.

"Don't be Selfish!" She yelled in reply."Death gods must be fair to all souls. Saving those only you can reach…only those you can see…"

Ichigo stopped completely. Shocked from her words.

"This work isn't that convenient. Don't save him." She said to Ichigo. "If you want to save that Child now, than you best be ready to save ALL spirits. Even if it means sacrificing yourself in the process."

Ichigo was still standing completely still. The boy desperately ran to them, screaming and pleading for help. He came to Ichigo's feet. A blade of steel cleaved through the Hollow's left limbs, tossing it away from them. The hollow disappeared, and things grew silent.

"Ichigo, are you prepared to do that?" Rukia asked.

"No, I ain't." He replied, shaking his head. "I saved him because I wanted to."

Rukia gasped lightly under her breathe.

"Are you different? Last night you risked your life to save me and my family." He said looking her dead in the eye."Tell me, were you thinking about your duty as a Soul Reaper?" He shouted.

Rukia still stood, in a surprised state.

That passion…

"When you risk your life, that ain't the reason." He said forwardly. "At least for me…"

[Soul Society – Kuchiki Sector Rukia

He was like a lighthouse. I felt a flash of brilliant light from him. And it was all around. He shown me that day what it meant to save someone's life. Why I did save them….why I forgot everything about duty, in that instant…

She stood up, stepping onto the grassy area below. The plush grass was cut to be the perfect area for meditation. It felt cold beneath her feet, and was damp. She walked up to the pond, staring into its reflection, at a much closer point of view than before. It reflected the craters and holes the moon had. It was like they were scars that it was sharing with the world below. And its silver light was like the loneliness it endured.

I cared. I seen the power his soul gave off. Much brighter than anything I'd seen. I wanted to help him. I didn't do it because it was my duty to, not because we are to protect all souls. Because I wanted to save that soul And I paid a great price…

Rukia kneeled down on her knees, damply wetting the lower part of her robe. She sat with her head tilted down, as if to bow.

I was taken away…

[Memory: Kurakara City Rukia

"Tell me, Rukia." Renji murmured. "Where is that boy that took your powers?"

"What are you talking about?" Rukia responded. "Just because I am in a faux body, does not mean my powers were taken!"

"Furthermore…what makes you think it was a boy that took them?" She asked.

"It was a boy…if it wasn't, you wouldn't have that expression on your face." He said to her.

What he said that day. What he told me. I must have had a look on my face…though I guess now that I think about it…back then…well; I mean…it was…he was my partner. We worked together for so long. I think Renji was angry to see that

A little later that evening…

Blood dripped from the cut on her right cheek. She stared in awe as Renji readied another attack for Ichigo.

I hoped that the first attack would have shown Ichigo the power gap…that way he'd back down so he only had minor wounds, but…

She shifted her vision to Ichigo's bleeding wound.

I had hoped for that, but…of course it's not like Ichigo to back down just like that…I truthfully knew that maybe he wouldn't back down.

Rukia's heartbeat quickened, as she saw Ichigo about to be struck down by her long time rival, Renji. Her mouth could not move. She was in shock to see her real friend about to be killed. Tears began to build in her eyes. Her heart was in agony.

Run away. I beg you, Ichigo. Run away. Please. Run away before he attacks again. Ichigo!

In an instant, Rukia dashed to Ichigo's side, and stopped Renji's hand with a kido martial arts hold.

"What're you doin' Rukia?!" Renji yelled. "You want to get into more trouble than you already are?

[Soul Society – Kuchiki Sector Rukia

That day…Ichigo tried to save me. It was not duty. He was disrupting justice. He tried to save me because he…cared.

A tear ran down her cheek as her thoughts reminded her. She dried with the sleeve of her robe, and took a deep breath.

Now that I really think about it, it was as if I really felt like I had a true friend. I hadn't felt that way for a long…long time. Ichigo…wanted me to stay. He didn't give up, and even injured Renji. He…

Tears from each eye were running down her cheeks. She wiped each away, shaking her head. The light from the moon was as bright as the white robe she wore. Pure, and solemn. But her heart was not in the same condition.

Even thinking about him is making me sad. I realize now that I belonged there. That I really shouldn't be here, because this is not my home. It's not my home anymore.

Tears began to run freely. She did not wipe them away anymore. They dripped off her chin, leaving marks on her robe as they landed. It was raining that day. Not in Seireiti, but in her heart.

I dream of the days we spent together. I remember leaving. I remember dying inside, seeing you on the floor. You weren't supposed to follow me. Here I am, now. I'm not in the real world. I'm still in Soul Society. There are times I wake, and reach to open the door of your closet. There's nothing there. The floor is cold, and the room is spacious.

Rukia looked up, to the moon in the sky. Away from the reflection, away from what is not real. The tears still bled from her heart, continuously.

"Ichigo…I miss you."

[Kurakara City – Ichigo's Room Ichigo

Ichigo stood at his window side. The town was quiet. The light was the only thing alive.

Nights like this…Rukia used to go out. Used to go to a high place, and think about things.

He sighed, placing his right hand on his forehead. There were sweat drops running down the sides of his head. It had been a long night.

Probably just Soul Society. She always seemed to miss that place. I bet she just….missed him too much. After all, what are the few weeks she spent with me compared to hundreds of years of training together?

A drop of water landed on his left hand. He looked at it, as it glistened in the moonlight. He looked up, and there was nothing around the window. It was a tear of Rukia's. Only hers were recognizable to him. He looked behind him, to his closet.

Every time I look that way, I only want you to be there when I awake. I left the blankets the way they were when you did. They're still folded, by you. Your school uniform is even there, folded neatly. Nothing has changed around me. But you're missing.

Ichigo walked around to his closet, and closed the door. He leaned his head upon it, closing his eyes.

Rukia…did you really want to leave? The times you were here, I…I wanted you to stay. I asked you, on the last day. You said no…why? It must be because of him. Or else you'd…come home.

"Rukia…come home."

That's it for Chapter One. Not much to say. Been a while since I've really WRITTEN, so it's sorta edgy. I dunno, we'll see.

Thanks for reading; I look forward to reading your reviews!