Sigh no reviews but I think I can't drop this out yet

Chapter 2, From the distance

"Good morning, Kurosaki-kun!"

Rukia turned away when she saw that Tatsuki was waiting for them. She looked happy when she saw them, and Ichigo smiled back at her. Rukia couldn't smile, even though she tried.

'No, she's not waiting for us.' Rukia thought. 'She's waiting for Ichigo.'

"Good morning, Tatsuki-chan." Ichigo answered. "You look happy today."

"I'm going ahead to the classroom." Rukia said quickly and managed to smile finally.

"Why don't you come with us?" Tatsuki asked.

"I have something to do there." Rukia answered. "See ya there!"

And then she ran away without looking back. Ichigo and Tatsuki looked after her for a while, but then they started talking again. Rukia ran into the classroom and saw that most of her classmates were already there. Renji was there too.

Rukia didn't look towards him, she just sat on her chair and started to read a book. In fact she wasn't reading: she was listening to the others speaking. Some girls talked about spring vacation, some others about boys nearby. Ishida was reading like always, and Orihime laughed with her friends. Renji didn't say anything to anyone, he just leaned on the wall and looked out of the window.

'He seems so lonely.' Rukia thought when taking a glance towards Renji. 'Why isn't he with the others? He has always got along with people.'

"Hey, have you noticed how well Kurosaki-kun and Tatsuki-chan get along?" One of the girls suddenly asked. "They seem to be really close to each other!"

Rukia closed her eyes and wished that she could be anywhere else. The others had noticed it too, how close Ichigo and Tatsuki-chan were to each other. Rukia was feeling so lonely. All she could do was to watch them from the distance, she couldn't do anything to make herself feel better.

Ichigo and Tatsuki came to the classroom along with the teacher, and everyone else went back to their desks. Renji still didn't say anything, but he took a quick glance towards Rukia before he sat down. She had bowed her head.

'I can only watch her from the distance.' He thought. 'It might be better... for me, for her, and for everyone else... if I wasn't here.'

On the meal hour Rukia was eating with Orihime and her friends. She tried to laugh, tried to act like nothing was wrong with her. For a while it worked. It worked until Ichigo and the others came, Tatsuki among them. She was the only girl with the other boys.

'Damn!' Rukia cursed to herself. 'Right when I was about to forget them for a moment...'

"Yo! Can we join you?" Ichigo asked happily.

"Of course!" Orihime answered, smiling and glancing at Ishida.

"I'm done eating so I'll go for a walk." Rukia said and stood up.

"But Kuchiki-san!" Orihime said. "Why won't you -"

Rukia didn't listen. She couldn't even fake a smile this time. She just walked away, trying to forget the fact that everyone was looking at her.

Renji was standing on the roof and once again watching the city. It was a sunny day, and this time the blowing wind was gentle and warm. Despite of the warm spring weather and all the happiness around him, Renji couldn't be happy, not in that world. He felt uneasy because he knew that he was different from the others. And because he knew Rukia was unreachable for him.

'This world is like other home for her.' He thought. 'I'm glad she has found a place where she can be happy... was it with me or not. I've made my decision and I'm not going to turn back anymore. I can't turn back anymore.'

Rukia came to the classroom at the same time with Ichigo, Tatsuki, Renji and Ishida. Ishida didn't look at any of them, just walked into the classroom. Tatsuki was laughing, and Ichigo looked towards the two others. Renji raised his head but didn't say anything, Rukia didn't even look back at Ichigo. He walked into the classroom talking with Tatsuki.

Rukia raised her head, and for a second her eyes met Renji's. She had never seen him with those eyes, eyes with sadness and determination. She had no idea why he had that look, but then he turned away and walked into the classroom too. Rukia followed him, still thinking about everything that had happened during those days.

If only she could have known what was still to come.

Next chapter: Never going to give up