Author's Note: I try not to use ANs. The viewpoint is mainly Ichigo's and the only other one is omnicient with what Rukia is doing, in italics. I hope this isn't too confusing. The lines should separate it. Thanks for reading, please review.

Prologue: Falling out

A stiff apology is a second insult.... The injured party does not want to be compensated because he has been wronged; he wants to be healed because he has been hurt. ~G.K. Chesterton

An apology is the superglue of life. It can repair just about anything. ~Lynn Johnston

I remember that day like it was yesterday. She was so mad. I, was so frustrated. I thought it would be like every other fight. I said something stupid; she was insulted but forgave me once I apologized. This time was different, no apology could happen if I never saw her and I had no way to contact her…

I woke up and she was in the kitchen and being the actress she was she made breakfast for my family. I was used to it. The food wasn't the act. The act wasn't that she loved to cook and help everyone. In reality she had learned just for them. She was loving and caring. The act was that it wasn't any problem at all. I remember the day she volunteered, she would spend hours trying to get everything perfect. While everyone was off doing she would cook the same meal several time to get it perfect. She didn't mind but she told them she had been raised to cook so she was a natural, it was no problem at all. She was a soul, she didn't hardly eat and she definitely didn't cook.

It was think like that which made the fight even stupider. I had asked her if she wouldn't mind picking up Yuzu and Karin's birthday presents. She was happy to do it. She'd say it was from both of us and I gave her some money. She had some but not much. I had told her that I wanted to give them in the morning so I wanted to wrap them at night. She promised she would. We talked about this about a week earlier.

So I never mentioned it after that, then the day came and the night closed and I asked her about the presents. She froze. "You didn't get them?"

"No, I completely forgot. I'm sorry Ichigo." She said looking at her feet. "I promise I'll run out in the morning and get everything done."

"Rukia, I just asked you to do one thing and you couldn't get it done!" I don't know why I was so angry about it. I must have had a hard day, everything but the breakfast she made that day and that fight remained in my mind, everything else was faded. "What did you do today anyway? Probably spend the time making your stupid drawing or buying chappy stuff. You're so selfish." I walked off, angry with her. I was the biggest idiot in the world.

She sniffled, and when I looked back she was gone. "Rukia… Rukia?" I ran after her looking for her. I didn't find her. I spent countless hours searching for her. She could take care of herself, maybe it was a hollow, or maybe a bunch… I hope she okay. I kept making excuses why she didn't come back. I was extremely worried.

In the morning, Yuzu and Karin ran into my room. "Thanks for the gifts brother, they're the best." I remember that Karin got all new pads an a new soccer ball and Yuzu got a cookbook she'd been wanting, a stuffed animal and some new clothes. The presents had my name on them but I knew Rukia got them.

Yuzu and Karin got a letter from Rukia with money in it but the girls wouldn't tell me what it said. I still don't know. Dad got one too, a letter, not money. I got money… it was what I gave her. I guess it was to prove that she wasn't selfish I guess. She didn't say the presents came from her, and I didn't pay for them. She did it out of her heart. We didn't hear from her after that and no one expected to hear from her… except me. I didn't get a letter, just that 15 dollars… not even enough to cover what Rukia had bought them. I haven't spent that money. I think Rukia should keep it, so I don't spend it.

Rukia was so angry at Ichigo. She had said sorry, what else could she do? The stores were closed for the night and she told him she would take care of it. Then he dared call her selfish!

She ran out of the house because she didn't want him to notice she was crying but she sensed a hollow before her sensor could even get it. She ran after it and it was extremely strong. It felt like a menos… it wasn't a gillian… it was adjuchos or higher. She was a little bit scared but she went after it like she should.

She fought with it until daybreak when after a major blow, it went back to Hueco Mundo. She was very injured and she sighed… she couldn't rest… she had to get to the store.

She knew what to get them both. She heard them talking about it the other day. Her dad would get them something ridiculous that they didn't want but they'd like anyway. She got them what they wanted.

As Rukia was in the soccer store she picked out a lot of things she thought Karin would like and it wrung up 75 dollars. She looked at the money Ichigo gave her. She ignored it and used her own to buy that for Karin and she spent about 75 on Yuzu, to be fair. She then prepared letters for the family, except Ichigo.

At the last minute she said the presents were from Ichigo and she left them 25 dollars a piece. She left the 15 Ichigo gave her in an envelope for him. She wrapped them nice and set them on the kitchen table, with an already prepared meal. And then she left to Urahara's.

I tried to go to Soul Society to talk to her. I had to apologize, but Urahara refused. I asked him why. He was straight with me. He told me Rukia had paid him 100 dollars to make sure that I didn't go through and if I offered more he could have 2x what I offered. I knew she had the money and Urahara believed her, I wouldn't waste their money so I left.

I felt that maybe Rukia would come back on her own. Calling me an idiot, demanding an apology. She never did though. I was all alone. Yuzu and Karin didn't say that they blamed me but I knew they did. My dad whenever someone let slip her name, he would look at me with this disappointed face.

He looked at me one day and said "You really messed up this time, huh?" I knew I had. The fact that weeks and months passed and she didn't come back said that.

I didn't know what to do. I couldn't write to soul society. I didn't have their phone numbers. Urahara refused to help… I didn't know who to turn to for help.

All I remember was the shinigami who was to cover that area after Rukia refused to speak of her. I tried to ask how she was, what she was doing, if he would take a letter. He said it was forbidden and that she didn't need a substitute anymore and how I should be stripped of my powers. It was true but it kind of hurt. Did Rukia say that? This guy didn't know us so she had to say that. She was still bitter towards me.

….. (months later) …

I didn't exactly move on after Rukia. I didn't date anyone. Everyone thought it was weird… because they all didn't remember her and those who could were angry if I mentioned her name.

"Ichigo, you hurt Rukia, that's why she ran away." Orihime said sadly.

"You must have messed up so bad for her to not even say anything to you before she left." Ishida told me.

Chad just seemed disappointed, he never said anything but I could see it when someone mentioned it, like when everyone had moved on and forgot about her. I wouldn't forget no matter what, I was stronger. I needed to apologize and I would.