A/N: I have been reading Bleach manga for a while now (and yes, I know, I've outdated myself but due to lack of time) and also have been reading fan fictions of it. I've been inspired to do one, thus this. And also I've read that fiction stories should be done in present tense, so I've experimented that idea here. But please do tell me if you find inconsistencies. I'm still working this present tense thing out. (._.;;)


"Your hair has grown," a raven haired girl says as she touches the small stems of hair on the neck of a boy with strange, orange hair. He lets out a snort and says with a smile, "Ladies like long hair now, don't they?" She only smiles at his response, knowing that he won't see it since he closed his eyes a few moments ago.

Kuchiki Rukia's eyes wonders away from the boy to the scenery around her. They had been dilly-dallying once again on the school's open rooftop. It always had been theirs to share only with each other during seventh period, the last class of the day. Yes, they skipped but only when there was nothing happening especially since it was only homeroom. But today is different, Rukia tells herself in her mind.

Earlier today, Rukia told Ichigo to come to the roof with her during seventh period and as usual, the boy agreed with no comments. It seemed rare but not strange to him, her request. And so they left class before seventh period even came.

"So, what's on your mind?" he asks, opening his eyes, looking straight at her.

They weren't and aren't lovers as oppose to what many in their school may think. They were and are just friends. That's all there is to it. But their friendship is special; they allowed no boundaries to it. Both trust and both have faith in each other. And since before they had placed themselves into their current positions, Ichigo had been hoping she'd confide in him with the burden he felt her carrying.

She sighs. "It's probably nothing."

He removes himself from her lap and sits next to her. "You know you can tell me anything," he says with a cool tone, not really smiling. He knows something is off and he is going to get her to tell him.

"I'm transferring," she says bluntly because she knows telling him longer than expected would have hurt them both. And she adds, "After graduation."

He didn't utter anything after that. They both kept silent.

It didn't take long and Ichigo finally tells her, still in a cool and silent tone, really allowing Rukia to read his feelings, "Where?"

"South."

"You takin' up college there?" he asks, even though it kind of felt stupid, since she is of course, moving.

"Yeah, with Hisagi, Renji and Hitsugaya."

He turns to her, a little confused. "They say they'd tag along or something?"

"Not really," she lets out with a smile, looking down on her lap with her hands playing with each other, "Nii-sama just kinda asked them if they wanted scholarships and they said yes."

Ichigo looks up at the sky while letting out a 'mm' from his mouth. He sort of understood. The three boys mentioned earlier are also friends of his and he knew they grew up with nothing, fought each day to survive, fed themselves and even had to look for a good education. Then Ichigo asks, "Have you told the others yet?"

"Only you."

"That's good."

A few months later...

Ishida Uryuu, the student council president, looks out the window behind his desk and places his hands behind him. Tomorrow is graduation day and everyone is busy preparing for it. He sees no need in participating with the preparations since all the graduating classes were disseminated with a particular task to do in helping for their own big day. Today, he decided, he's going to spend a little time with his friends.

"Kaichou," a voice hollers from behind. He recognizes the voice and doesn't bother to turn around, so rather, he asks, "What is it, Tatsuki?"

"The basketball club is asking if they could borrow the balls for a little while longer, it's a sentimental thing, they said," Tatsuki answers, hitting the back of her head with a clip board, feeling an itch. She looks at him, unmoving, and waits.

"It's the last day of school, so why not? Let them have their balls," he answers back, sort of commanding. Tatsuki nods to herself and replies, "Thanks, pres." And she turns her back on him, on the way to the door, when she stops on her tracks. It's been bothering her for some time now, especially since everyone had already decided where they were going for college and all, so she asks him, hoping for some hope that nothing would change but still knew that her thoughts were going to be left in vain, "So... you know it, right? That Rukia and the others are leaving?"

She hears no reply. So she walks away, saying a silent goodbye.

"I know it too darn well, Tatsuki," he whispers to himself.

It was no longer than a month ago that Abarai Renji had finally blabbered about his scholarship into South Tokyo's private academy, Hisana University, owned and sponsored by no other than Kuchiki Byakuya for his late wife, Rukia's sister, was finally official. The others were ecstatic for him but felt a big hole would be left to mark in their hearts once he left. But that wasn't all. He told the others that Hisagi Shuuhei, Hitsugaya Toushiro and Kuchiki Rukia were coming along. He didn't know it and nobody showed it but they felt the hole growing larger.

It had been clear to them; graduation didn't only mean freedom, it also meant separation. Even though most of them decided to take up a community college in Karakura because they felt most comfortable there, even with a few courses to offer, they didn't expect that four of their closest friends were going to move away – specifically right after the day of graduation.

And now, as they give each other farewell cards, they offer it with heavy hearts.

Inoue Orohime is up and about, handing out handwritten goodbye letters to her close friends and cookies for those of her acquaintances. She feels nothing but happiness, handing out those two things but suddenly feels ill in her stomach when she sees Rukia coming her way. She was and is her friend. She doesn't feel she should assume they were 'best of friends' nor 'more than just acquaintances' but she felt their relationship was somewhere between of those two. Although it wasn't much, they had shared a lot in the past two years after Rukia entered their school.

"Rukia!" she yells out, running to her side.

Seeing this familiar woman with a literally large heart (and front), Rukia feels somewhat relieved, despite her growing feelings of sadness earlier, having thought of leaving Karakura town since who knew when starting tomorrow. "Inoue!" she greets with a small but sincere smile.

"Rukia-chan! Rukia-chan! Rukia-chaaaaaaan!" Orohime screams at the top of her lungs as she squishes the relatively small girl in her arms. Ah, Rukia thought, she remembers now why they had a certain boundary in their friendship – she annoyed her most of the time, especially with those big melons that keep her from breathing. Rukia frees herself from Orohime's deadly hug and huffs air in and out of her system. Once she can finally breathe, Rukia looks at her with dreading eyes, hoping no more of her attacks come, and asks, still gasping for some air, "H-heeey. W-What were you up to just now?"

"I was handing out letters and cookies!" she obligingly responses, "Which reminds me! Here!" Orohime's left hand quickly rummages through a basket that hung from her right wrist, taking out a cookie and letter and offers it to Rukia with a smile. Rukia looks at the two objects and asks her, with doubt, "A-Are you sure it's okay for me to take it?"

"Of course!" Orohime beams.

Rukia smiles widely. She accepts the cookie and places it quickly in her mouth; the letter she hides on her breast pocket. "Thank you," Rukia says with great politeness and gratitude. This situation made her realize how loved she is in Karakura and that she'll never forget all of the wondrous memories it had to offer.

"I'll be going now, then, Rukia-chan," Orohime says, waving her a goodbye. It wasn't after a bit later when she turns to see if Rukia was still there that she realizes that it didn't bother them of the honorific she used. Orohime smiles because even though it was just for a while, she finally was able to be close to her.

Everyone in Karakura High School who has become part of Rukia's heart thought of their partings, even with Renji, Hisagi and Hitsugaya, as momentary, just for a while. That the distance was nothing more than a few train rides. They were ready to pop in for a visit, if time allowed. They decided on that. They promised to do their best to stay connected. Rukia's party promised the same...

... but then again, it's never them who really gets to decide.


A/N: I'm continuing this soon enough. Do not fear, friends. I'll update every weekend! :D Buuuut I'll be needing fuel for that in the form of your kind (or even harsh) reviews! Thanks for reading all the way to the end of Chapter One! :P