AN

Hi there! So the name is pretty self-explanatory. You should know that each chapter will be a different rating and genre, so I will be sure to indicate the changes. Not much else to say, so enjoy!

Disclaimer-Hey, if anyone is owning anything, then Bleach is owning me!

Summary-Almost two years have gone by since Ichigo lost his powers, and he along with Rukia are starting to lose hope.

Song- Say Something By A Great Big World ft Christina Aguilera

Rating- T

Genre-Angst/Romance

Chapter 1

Say Something

Say something; I'm giving up on you. I'm sorry that I couldn't get to you. Anywhere, I would have followed you.

And I, am feeling so small. It was over my head, I know nothing at all. And I, will stumble and fall. I'm still learning to love, just starting to crawl.

And I, will swallow my pride. You are the one that I love, and I'm saying goodbye. Say something...

Ichigo shivered violently as a frigid blast of wind assaulted him. He stood somberly by the river where his mother was killed all those years ago. But to him it might as well have been yesterday.

His life hadn't been the same since. Well, that is until Rukia had made an appearance. But now, just like everything else good in his life, she was gone. Maybe he just wasn't meant to be happy.

It was a sad thought, but Ichigo couldn't make sense of it otherwise. He'd sacrificed a large part of himself to save the world, hell the universe, and what did he get in return? Losing Rukia. He was starting to wonder if it was worth it.

So what that Aizen would probably rule the world and he and everyone else would be dead. At least he would be with his girl. Ichigo quickly shook himself of those thoughts, feeling overwhelming guilt. If Rukia were here, she'd kick him for his selfishness.

Yeah, Rukia was just one person and in the grand total of things, she was unimportant. But she was his everything. Without her, his world simply didn't turn.

Funny how you appreciated things when they were gone. Ichigo was no fool, and long before this incident he knew that Rukia was the center of his world. But he was a coward, a dumbass who couldn't bring himself to put his feelings out there on the line. He couldn't stand feeling vulnerable.

Now all he had were regrets. Why didn't he act when he had the chance? He of all people should know that life was short and unpredictable. And now he was out of time, and probably wouldn't get the chance again. Even if he were somehow able to remember how when he finally died and went to Soul Society, she'd probably be married off to some noble prick courtesy of her snob brother and their horrible clan.

He was such an idiot. People called him noble, a hero, a great guy. But he felt like a total loser. Without that midget, his life had no meaning. There was no one else to stimulate and challenge him like she did. No one to forcibly cheer him up, or kick his ass. He simply missed her.

Her delicate beauty, her witty charm, her naive innocence and her tough badassness. He wanted it all back. He craved it, he needed it. He needed her.

They were all such fools. They believed that he was fine, that he'd finally moved on. Nobody knew him like Rukia. This only proved it. And that's why he knew that Orihime didn't really love him, she just loved the idea of him. She knew practically nothing about him.

He just couldn't take her feelings seriously. They had no bond other than friendship and that's the way it would always be. Rukia had his heart and probably would always have it. His life was a mess. The rain was constant, overflowing. He could feel it in his soul, even if he couldn't hear Zangetsu's complaints.

Ichigo didn't believe that he would ever be happy again. How could he? He was giving up on himself. Giving up on her...

The weight of his despair pushed him to his knees and Ichigo sank to the ground. "Rukia..."

"Ichigo."

Great. Now he was hearing voices in his head. They'd declare him certifiably insane and have him locked up by tomorrow. Well, considering who his father was, it was only a matter of time right.

"Ichigo."

There it was again. Rukia's voice. So meloic and beautiful. It wasn't high pitched, squeaky or whiny. It was throaty, sultry and nerve tingling. He'd always loved her voice. Why was his brain torturing him now?

"Ichigo! Come on you fool, don't give up. Try harder!"

Wait a minute, that sounded too real. And too close. Ichigo remembered the exact moment when he'd lost his powers. His senses had been the first to go, followed by his sight and then his hearing. If his powers were ever to come back, maybe the process was happening in reverse. He didn't want to get his hopes up. After all it would only hurt so much more if he were wrong. It would be the kind of hurt that he could never recover from.

But that voice. It was too much. His mind wasn't that precise. Could this really be happening?

;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;

Despite what she'd just shouted at Ichigo, Rukia was giving up. She'd been standing directly in front of Ichigo for an hour shouting at him, but nothing seemed to be happening. She'd grown hopeful when he'd cocked his head as if he could hear her, but he still couldn't see her. Rukia had waited for this moment for two long years. All she'd ever wanted was to be reunited with her brave, handsome strawberry.

Rukia knew better than most that life wasn't fair, but she'd felt that Ichigo had been dealt a particuilarly cruel hand. She knew that he treasured his powers for the freedom it granted him and the ability to protect those close to him. Despite all her jokes, Rukia knew that he took his name 'one who protects' very seriously and she never doubted him. But she was starting to wonder.

Were her friends right? Was she being too clingy? Could this be Ichigo's one chance at a normal life without her interrupting it? But no, it couldn't be. Rukia refused to believe that. They hadn't been there when Ichigo was shaking from horrendous nightmares or calling out her name in agony. They didn't understand how much she and Ichigo suffered. They worked better as a team, and that had never been more true than lately.

They were each other's better half. Rukia had always known she'd loved Ichigo. But she'd strongly believed that he deserved better than her. She was dead, he was alive. It was as simple as that. Or at least, it was that simple.

But now she didn't know. Or maybe it was just that she didn't care. Even to an idiot, it was obvious that they were happier when together. Who was she or the Soul Society for that matter, to say otherwise. Rukia had been there for every Birthday, anniversary and nightmare that she could. She'd refused to abandon Ichigo, and whether he knew it or not, she'd meant what she said. She would always look out for him. Now if only he could see her...

"Hey, shortness. What's with that look?"

Rukia started and looked up. Ichigo's beautiful amber eyes were staring straight into her soul.

;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;

Rukia had gone silent, and Ichigo began to doubt that he'd actually heard her in the first place. But then a pressure had began building behind his eyes and after a moment, he was forced to close them completely. He waited fifteen whole minutes before he dared open them again, and he was met by the sight of his ray of light standing not two feet in front of him with a devastated look on her flawless face. Ichigo jumped to his feet and stepped closer, observing Rukia in awe. She was really here. He stared at her for a long while, drinking in her image and absorbing her presence into his battered heart. And then he broke the silence.

Unmitigated joy bloomed over Rukia's face and she smiled at him. "Hello again, Ichigo. It's been too long."

Ichigo engulfed her tiny frame in a hug and felt the rain finally stop in his soul. The embrace was magic, healing all of his wounds and fears and leaving him feeling invincible. He nestled his face in Rukia's lavender scented hair and whispered, "I love you so much. Don't ever leave me like that again."

She burried herself more deeply into his embrace and he felt rather than saw her smile. "Oh, you silly boy. I never left you. I was always there, just like I said. A Kuchiki never breaks a promise. And I love you as well."

Ichigo released her long enough to claim her lips. When they finally broke apart, Ichigo was smiling. His first real smile in two years. He took Rukia's hand and began towing her along. "Come on, beautiful. Let's go."

Rukia actually giggled. "Where are we going, dummy?"

"To get married. And don't even try to change my mind. I'm ignoring all of your opinions. You're marrying me whether you want to or not, damn it."

Rukia's foot found Ichigo's face in a familiar maneuver. Ichigo grinned through the pain.

"How very rude of you! Lucky for you that I don't mind marrying you. How else can I properly keep track of you?"

Ichigo picked Rukia up and swung her around. "I'll take that as a yes."

Their joyous laughter floated around them as they disappeared down the street.

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