Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach. It's property of Tite Kubo.

Summary: Happy IchiRuki Month everyone! I'm so excited and I'm trying to work hard to finish all prompts. Well, before anything else, let me thank you everyone who read the previous one-shot, and who took the time to review this story as well as follow it and put it in their favorites. You guys all rock! Now, this week's prompt is basically "Agent of the Shinigami + Soul Society Arc," so it's about the very beginning of Bleach. My inspiration for this one-shot was Memories In The Rain. I've said it before and I'll say it again, that mini arc was the moment in which Ichigo's and Rukia's dynamic changed and they became closer. We then understood more about it when we saw Memories In The Rain Part 2. I have written about this arc before, but I've never truly wrote anything about it in Rukia's POV, so this was the perfect opportunity to do so. I really hope you like it, even if it's short.

Until tomorrow!

P.S. I wrote this one-shot while it was raining.

Reviews

Guest: ¡Muchas gracias!

Gentle Caress

Summary: A lost memory in the rain.

Prompt: Missing Scene

It had been raining heavily, so hard their clothes had gotten drenched in a matter of seconds, but it seemed that it had already stopped. Rain had mixed with blood, staining her dress as well as his robes, not that Rukia minded about that. She was more focused on the boy lying with his head on her lap, than something as insignificant as blood. He was majorly injured, from a gash on his face to possibly a lot of bruises on his arms and legs. The deep stab on his stomach was the most pressing wound he had. It had been nearly fatal. Rukia took a moment to breathe, then started using kidou to heal him.

"Nee-san." She had hardly heard Kon's voice with all the noise the rain drops made as they hit the ground.

"Don't worry…" The shinigami addressed him. The modified soul could act all he wanted as if he didn't care about Ichigo, but Rukia knew the truth. He had been worried about the boy losing and dying. That makes two of us. "A shinigami's life force is their amount of spiritual energy… To not die from these wounds… The idiot's strength is quite something…" She said in wonder, reassuring both Kon as well as herself. He won't die. I won't let him.

She observed the boy quietly. Even when unconscious, his brows were set in what appeared to be a permanent frown. That amused her. He's but a boy. He really could have died. The thought shook her to her very core. Unwanted memories raided her mind, of a night just like this one, rain falling heavily and a body that fell on her own, just like Ichigo had fallen earlier, blood spilling on her cheeks. That person hadn't survived, though. But that's not Ichigo. He is alright. Rukia reminded herself, silently chastising herself for having such intrusive thoughts. "For being able to survive…Ichigo…thank you!" She exclaimed, her voice shaking brokenly. She was so pathetic, almost crying over a human boy, when she was a Shinigami and knew the laws of nature. Ichigo would die one day, she knew that deep down. But not today, not because of me!

Rukia gently put her hand over where she knew his heart would be. There she felt the steady beating that, to her ears, sounded like a constant I live I live I live. She sighed in relief. Ichigo would truly be alright, and he'd have an incredible story to tell one day. Of how he had almost defeated his mother's murderer and battled a hollow that more experienced Shinigami had lost and perished while fighting against it, yet he had survived, although not unscathed. Her hand, shyly at first, lied on his cheek, while she brushed the blood away. Rukia was dimly aware that Kon was watching her every move, but she didn't care. "You were so brave, Ichigo. Braver than I've ever been." She whispered. "You had me worried, you fool. But I'm glad you're alive. I won't ever let you die on me, okay?" As she spoke, she continued caressing his cheek, marveling at how soft it felt. Rukia felt electric pulses run through her body as she continued with her ministrations. What's happening? She hadn't felt like this in such a long time, but she knew what it meant. She was crossing a border that shouldn't be crossed. I've always been such a fool. She removed her hand from his cheek, and continued healing him. Sadly, her strength ran out before she could completely heal him. This is going to hurt a lot.

Once Ichigo was patched up, Rukia turned to look at Kon. "You won't tell him anything, will you?"

Kon, who had been patiently watching her every move, shook his head. "You know I'd never, nee-san. But maybe you should tell him yourself, y'know, when the time comes." He said cryptically.

Will I even be able to? "Thank you." She said and smiled at him. "Now come, let's return Ichigo to his body."

That Ichigo was so predictable, he had gone straight to his mother's grave after waking up. The real question here was why she had followed him. It wasn't as if he was in danger anymore, and honestly speaking her presence would definitely be unwanted, but for some reason Rukia didn't want to name, she had gone after him, careful to remain unseen, hidden in the trees. She heard him talking to his father, and her heart wrenched painfully in her chest. He still thinks everyone should blame him for that, when it wasn't his fault. Her mind called her a hypocrite. That's completely different. Guilt invaded her. That was my fault after all. There's no one to blame but me for my cowardice.

"You listening, Rukia?" Ichigo called her, surprising her.

What? When had Ichigo learned to perceive reiatsu? He was truly growing in more ways than one.

"Does it look like your Shinigami powers are returning?" He asked her next, but Rukia decided not to answer him. "Whether they are or not, please… let me remain a Shinigami for a while longer." He begged, making her gasp. "I want to become strong. More and more and more. Become strong, defend those that get targeted against hollows. Become strong! And defeat him!" Then Ichigo turned so he was directly facing her. "Otherwise I won't be able to face okaa-san!"

"Ichigo…" Rukia whispered. She admired his determination, and the way it could move even the biggest of mountains. She knew that, eventually, she'd have to stop his growth before they found out about him, but for now, she'd let him continue growing and becoming even stronger. Out of the two of us, you're the strongest one. She nodded. "Of course." Until the time comes… She started wondering if she'd be able to tell him when the time came, after all.

A/N: I miss Kon.