Previously:

"Night, Rukia." Ichigo said as she fell asleep. He stared at both girls before draping his arm over both. He let his head rest fully on the pillow and let his eyes start to shut as the tiredness set in. He let his own had brush back the one stubborn bang that rest in front of Rukia's face before he let himself get fully consumed. "I'll see you two in the morning." He whispered with a rare smile on his lips.


The first thing Ichigo Kurosaki noticed when his body woke up was that in the bed, that held two women last night was now empty. One of his eyes slightly opened to peer around and see if maybe they had just rolled over the far right side of the bed. When he saw that that was not the case, panic quickly set in to his system. He launched up into a sitting position and quickly searched the room with his eyes.

He was on his feet and out the bed room door in a second. "Rukia? Nel?"

The next thing to reach his ears was the sound of soft laughter and hushing. His feet began to carry him in the direction that the noise was coming from and when he turned the corner of the hallway, he let out a small sigh of relief.

There in the kitchen that was over fifteen feet away from where he stood was the two objects of his panic. They were perfectly fine, not injured or in any danger. Completely safe. The two girls were standing over the stove, watching the food that lay in the pan sizzle and crack. They were in the middle of a conversation or that's what it looked like to Ichigo. Rukia had a soft smile on her face and Nel looked up to Rukia with excitement and adoration in her eyes, the smile she wore stretched across her face. He stood there for, what seemed like, endless minutes just watching the two enjoy themselves. It's extremely rare to have joyous moments as the two were having. He didn't feel like ruining it for them.

So he stood still, letting them have the small pleasurable moment. That was until he heard his name fall from Rukia's lips. His body stood up straight and he tried to lean closer to hear what the topic of conversation was. He began to slowly and as quietly as possible, move closer to the both so he could overhear just a little.

He wouldn't call it eavesdropping. Ichigo Kurosaki was no eavesdropper. He would just call it …simple curiosity. Plus, his name was in the conversation. He had a right to know if his name was brought up in whatever they were talking about, right? His feet stopped when he was only a mere five feet from Rukia and Nel, he crouched down behind the island that separated him from them. He closed his eyes focused all his being on his hearing.

It was silent.

He just assumed that they had paused in their conversation when he heard, "Ichigo Kurosaki, are you trying to eavesdrop?"

The said man looked up at the small raven haired women that now stood directly above him. "Hm?" He looked down at this crouching figure. "Uh, me eavesdrop? Nope, just stretching. You know, to get the blood pumping in the morning." He then proceeded to stand up and then do squats to prove his point.

Rukia watched him with accusing eyes. "Behind the island?"

"Where else? Its' a lovely island."

Nel took this time to put in her own two cents, "Wow, never thought Dad would be the lying type." She voice aloud while keeping her eyes glued to the ceiling as if it was any interest to her.

Ichigo's temper flared at that. "I am no liar!"

"Why were you trying to listen in on our conversation?"

"I WAS JUST CURIOUS!"

Rukia nodded, "About?"

"What you were talking about." Ichigo said it bluntly, like it was nothing more than curiosity.

"So you decide to eavesdrop to figure it out."

Ichigo crossed his arms, "Yes." Rukia smirked because she had gotten the truth sneakily out of him. Ichigo, who realized it seconds too late, tried to cover up his answer, "I MEANT NO! You cheated!"

"Really? How so?"

The orange haired man made a pointed glare at her figure as she turned back to walk to the stove and resume cooking. "Go clean up. Breakfast is almost ready." Ichigo didn't move for a few minutes, until he was satisfied with his glaring, before he stomped off to the bathroom.


"When do you plan to tell him?" Nel questioned the older woman.

Rukia resumed flipping eggs and pancakes . She watched the food cook with sadden eyes.

"Ichigo! Please, don't make me live this world by myself!" Rukia screamed at the man that had rejected being her partner in this newly created world. "I'll learn, you just need to teach me a little and I'll pick everything up, quickly too!" Tears were forming in her amethyst eyes. She was afraid, deeply afraid, to live in a world where at any moment something could pop out, bite you and that bite would signal the end of your life. "Please." She finally whispered.

Ichigo looked at Rukia from over her shoulder he knew he couldn't leave her to die because she was one of his friends. They had become close friends before this. He was scared himself. Partly, for the whole zombie infection and partly, because he was scared of partnering with her and then have her betray him. Ichigo sighed, 'You're just overreacting. Rukia's one of your best friends. She is not like that.' He knew that he truly can trust Rukia. Maybe it was just pure idiocy but he was overacting over her pledge to be partners. "Alright but we have to make a deal right here and right now."

Rukia's eyes glowed with happiness. He body over filled with a calm and safe feeling. Ichigo was strong and would teach her well. "Anything! I'll promise anything."

"We will never keep secrets from each other. Ever. That could be fatal. If you get sick with even a small cold, tell me. I need to know when I should be on more alert so I can protect you. I don't want you dying on me because you were too weak to protect yourself and me have no knowledge. It'd make me feel guilty."

"Of course! I won't ever keep a secret from you, Ichigo!" Rukia smiled up at him and, though, hesitant at first, he smiled back. "This goes vice versa as well, correct? I want to be able to protect you when the time comes."

The Kurosaki nodded at her request, "Sure, Rukia."

She knows she shouldn't be keeping it a secret but she is. They had made that promise when Rukia had ran from her house to his, just after she had learned that the world was spiraling into an apocalypse. He had a right to know but she was so scared to let him know. She could never find the right time to tell him. It was always a bad time in her mind.

She finished up cooking and began to set the table with Nel. Her face was set in a frown and her eyes held a look of concentration as she thought. She didn't have a legitimate answer for Nel, so she kept quiet. Nel didn't push it any further either. She just silently set the small round table with Rukia, her own mind thinking of something to break the silence that was beginning to get uncomfortable.

Rukia turned to gather the food and set it in the middle of the table but ran right into Ichigo. Her eyes traveled up to his and when they eyes connected he gave her a small grin. She could feel the slight pull in her chest and the burning behind her eye lids. Her frown was in a permanent position at the moment. Ichigo pulled her away and, never looking away from her eyes, placed something in her hand. She squeezed the object, there was about three of whatever it was and the part that was in her hand has a fuzzy texture. She tore her eyes away from his to see three beautiful red tulips in her hands. They were perfect.

Her fingertips grazed the silken petals and she felt a small tug at the corner of her lips. "Where in the world did you find these?" She asked.

"Well, after I cleaned up I took a small walk. Around the corner was a small garden, rows of flowers and what not. These made me think of you. It was hard to find three that didn't have droplets of blood on them but I managed it." He smiled down at her. The frown he saw her wearing moments before he walked up behind her was finally off but her eyes still held worry.

"Thank you." Rukia loved the flowers they were beautiful in every concept. Ichigo nodded and guided Rukia to her seat at the table. "Wait, I need to.." Ichigo began to set the small plates of food to the table setting them neatly in the middle of them. "You don't have to do this, I can do it by myself." Rukia told him.

"I never said that you could not do it by yourself. But you did cook which means you worked hard enough already. Let me help." With Ichigo's words, Rukia couldn't just flat out say no. So, she sat lowered herself back into her chair and waited for Ichigo to bring the food to the table. She glanced down at the tulips that lay in her hands that were resting on her lap. She unconsciously smiled down at them. She remembered long ago her father had told her the meaning of all the flowers. She tried to recall what her father had said about red tulips.

Rukia felt a poke at her head and it wasn't one the kind that'd help her remember what her father had said. It was just Ichigo poking the side of her head. She looked up at the man with a bit of annoyance, "What?"

He looked at her and that's when Rukia saw the worry that seemed to glaze over his eyes. The corner of her lips pulled slightly down, "Stop thinking so much on whatever you are thinking about." He then took the three flowers from her grasp and placed them in a small cup of water that he had placed in front of her while she was in her little trance of thoughts.

Ichigo took a seat, "Rukia, this looks amazing!" He praised the delicious food that lay in front of them.

"Thanks, it's amazing really. Nel's father had seriously prepared for this whole apocalypse. He saved frozen foods and practically anything that would last for like ever." Rukia explained. Ichigo began loading his plate as he listened to her. "I was surprised when she showed me all of it. Luckily, I still remember a few things about cooking and.."

Rukia was interrupted by a load moan that came from Ichigo, "God, Rukia, this amazing!" He shouted with a mouth full of food.

Said girl blushed a soft pink. She cleared her throat to get back her composure, "Ichigo, do not talk with your mouth full. It's disgusting."

"Mhm, okay."

Rukia smiled, though his indecency was completely disgusting, it was what made Ichigo, Ichigo. She turned her gaze to Nel. She looked a bit astonished that her eating habits were no different than the man across from her.

She sighed and began eating herself, but with a little more appropriately. Ichigo was the first to finish.

He let out a loud sigh and rested back in his chair. It was silent for some moments before Ichigo brought up a conversation that started a few sparks, but not any of the good variety. "I think we should all, meaning Me, You, and Nel, pack up and head out. As soon as we can, it's not safe here." Now the silence had a tense atmosphere to it.

Finally, Nel exploded, "WHY? WE DON'T HAVE TO LEAVE! YOU TWO JUST GOT HERE. YOU NEED TO SIT AND RELAX."

"Nel, it's truly not safe here."

"IT'S PERFECTLY SAFE HERE!"

"So you think. Something bad could happen any moment, and you could possible lose your life. It's better to stay on the move." Ichigo replied. His voice was tight, as he was trying to stay calm.

"I've been here for well over two years and I am still safe!"

"Nel, don't start anything, we can talk this through." Rukia decide she needed to jump in before something real bad happened.

The little girls hazel eyes started to pour with tears. "NO! It's not fair! I like it here, its safe I know it is. I'm still alive, aren't I?"

"Yeah, it's a miracle your still alive!" Ichigo's voice began to raise.

"Ichigo."

"I KNOW IT'S FINE HERE! YOU JUST DON'T LIKE STAYING STILL. RUKIA CAN'T BE ON THE MOVE EVERY SECOND IN HER CO-"

"NEL!"
The little girl cringed and lowered her head in shame. Ichigo was sitting up straight now. "Rukia." His amber eyes searched for her amethyst ones but she avoided them, "What was she going to say?"

"Nothing she was just angry." Rukia rose to her feet and collect the dirty plates and placed them in the sink and began to run warm water for them to soak in. "Nel, go take a bath and calm down." The younger girl pushed her chair angrily away as she stood; her feet stomped off in fury as she walked to the bathroom. Once the shower head was heard Rukia began to reason with Ichigo.

"Ichigo, you can't just make her leave." She began.

The man she was directly talking too turned a bit in his chair to look at her. "Well, I sure as hell can't let her just stay here, all by herself."

"Then why don't we just stay with her. It's not so dangerous to stay put for a while. She's just a child and we just met her yesterday. She's going to be scared to leave because all she knows is the safety of this house."

"What if something does come?"

Rukia smiled and place her hand on his shoulder, "We'll be right here to protect her."

To admit defeat at her words was the last thing Ichigo wished to do but he knew she was one hundred percent right. He sighed and looked at her. "I guess we can stay for a while, but we will leave and not in a year like little over or under a month."

"That' fine but go easier on Nel. Remember you are her father."

Ichigo let out a low groan. "Yeah, yeah. You would say all this being the mother." Rukia let out a small laugh.

"Pft, I'd over rule you in parenting any day."

Ichigo looked at her, examining her. "Rukia? Are you okay? Is there something wrong with you?"

"Huh? No, no I am perfectly fine." She assured him. His gaze ran over her form one more time to see if there was any visible injury but her outer appearance was perfectly fine. He nodded and gave her small grin. "You better apologize to her later."

"Huh?" Ichigo said, his voice laced with slight confusion.

All Rukia did for a response was jerk her head to the direction of the bath room. The orange head man sighed deeply and nodded, yet again. Rukia began to wash the breakfast dishes.

Ichigo kept his gaze on her for just a small amount of time before he got on his feet and walked over to her. "Hey, Rukia?"

"Hmm?" She responded without looking away from the dishes. Ichigo lightly tugged her chin in his direction so there eyes were connected.

"Thanks for breakfast." He thanked and then leaned down towards her face, leaving little space between the two. Her heart beat increased tenfold and her cheeks flamed a bright red.

His rough lips pressed gently against the soft skin of her cheeks for only mere seconds but in Rukia's mind last an eternity. He proceeded to walk off. Where to, she didn't know, her brain was a jumbled mess as she leaned up against the counter and placed her hand on the cheek that was caressed with his lips only moments ago. She tried to control her heavy breath and the redness she knew was overtaking her face.

Stupid Ichigo…


Well, hello hello:) This was Chapter three: Here to Stay. The name of this chapter is actually one of those Bleach background music things. It was very inspiring as well as Soundscape to Ardor. Go listen to them :] They are amazing.

So review and tell me what you thought of this chapter.! Good.? Bad.? Too cheesy.? Hm.? Please I need your reviews to get better. :D

Now to thank.!

ichiruki77: Why, thank you:) For everything.! The titele name is from a song called Redemption by Renfue.! It's freaking amazing. Ahah, I love you.~ Ahah, it makes me like overly happy that one of my most FAVORITE authors is reading my story.! :']
Aizawa Ayumu: Ahaha, thank you:) Ichigo and Rukia, in my opinion would be awesome parents. Aha. Glad you liked that chapter, hope you liked this one.!
MIchael Lewis: Thank you so much.! You are so encouranging.!I'm glad you liked the first two chapters and don't worry.! The intense actiony moments are to come in future chapters.~ It's not just because your a guy, I'm actually super hyped to start writing those parts.!
Ichiruki95: Thanks o.o Rofl, hope you enjoyed this.!
wonderthewice: Ah, where would I be without you.! :'D You are just so amazing and supportive. I love you.
OHSHCchick: Rofl, I find it completely hilarious that above your review is Mady's review xD Ahaha, yeah that was like the most hilarious and best conversation ever. And I want to write a real book a lot of people tell me I should and I'm just . Maybe, but if I ever do you'll be in my dedication and thanks.~ :D
MadyElizabeth: Thanks, Mady:) Ahah, and I must agree this name is pretty bad a.! :D
lilica: Sorry this chapter didn't come out as quickly as you hoped D: But thank you so much.! Your review made me so happy. Aha, I think I have secret love for angst too :o Because I aslways seem to write it and read it x.x Rofl, hope you liked this chapter.!
QueenofDarkness'97: Wow, thanks for having so much faith in me, Sis x.x Glad you like it.

AND TO THOSE WHO LIKED OR FAVORITED ME AND MY STORY.!
THANK YOU OH SO MUCH.! I had all your usernames down but I lost the paper. :'\ So YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE AND I LOVE YOU.! :'D

And if anyone would like to try and guess Ruki's dark little secret I shall give them a say in a certain important part of the story that will be happening later on.~ It is a very important part and it could change the story imensly.! :o Okay maybe not a whole lot but it will change it a bit.~

Until next time.!

Xoxo,
Personal Riot.