DISCLAIMER: I own stuff, just not Bleach (but Ichigo is mine, nyah)
Ichigo sat on his bed studying for tomorrow's exam. He had had a hard day; school, two Hollows, an attack from his dad, Kon was bothering him about Rukia not being there, and on top of it all...
Wait, where was Rukia?
Ichigo frowned to himself. He knew she wasn't in Soul Society, she was on furlough for a week. She also had exams to take tomorrow. And he would be damned if he was going to let her use his notes to get a good grade when she should be here with him studying. It would serve her right to fail and have to retake the test.
Maybe she was with Inoue at her house. They were pretty close friends, after all. No, she was studying with Tatsuki.. Ichigo began to worry. Maybe Rukia had gone to deal with a Hollow without him and she was hurt. Maybe he should go look for her.
Ichigo put his book down and told Kon to stay in case Rukia came home. He told his dad he was going out for awhile and began his search, going everywhere he thought Rukia might have visited.
She wasn't anywhere between their house and the school. He called Inoue; Rukia wasn't with them, either. Sandalhat hadn't seen her for a few days; he had thought she had gone to Soul Society.
No way she could have gone to S.S without telling him, Ichigo said to himself. He would hope that she would ask him to go with her if she did. He had friends there, too.
After checking every place he could think, Ichigo tried to concentrate on her riatsu. Surely he would be able to sense her and give a good piece of his mind.
"Like you could afford to spare what little mind you have," her voice echoed in his head. "Anyone who talks to themselves must be crazy to think they are going to carry on a conversation in that manner."
Ichigo turned to find Rukia exiting the bookstore behind him. "And just why do you think you're any saner than I when you're standing there holding a damn Chappy book when you should be studying for tomorrow's exam? You didn't even say you were going to be gone half the night, you could have been attacked by a Hollow or something, you could have been hurt or whatever..."
"I didn't know I had to file a report as to where I would be at a certain time and place. Don't you think I can take care of myself?" Rukia retorted.
"Yeah, I know you can take care of yourself! But don't you think that I would like to know that you won't be home until whenever so I don't have to think you're not lying half dead somewhere on the side of the road? There are people that care about you, you know. If you knew how much Kon was driving me nuts..." Ichigo's voice trailed off.
Rukia had a strange look on her face. Ichigo stared blankly at her. "Oi, what's the matter with you?" he grunted.
Rukia gave the smallest hint of a smile. "People who care, huh?"
Ichigo crossed his arms and looked away. " Yeah, well, whatever, there are exams tomorrow , too. You should be studying, not goofing off. You done now? Ready to go home? I'm not going to let you look at my notes, you know, you're on your own."
Rukia walked along quietly with Ichigo for awhile. "Thank you, Ichigo," she told him.
"For not letting you look at my notes?" Ichigo asked.
"No, not for that. You'll let me see your notes, you always do. Thank you for caring."
They walked a few more blocks without saying anything. Ichigo's hand went to clasp hers.
"Caring? Who said I cared?"
They walked the rest of the way home without any more conversation. There wasn't need of any.