Author's Note: Okay, so this was a twoshot originally…and then everyone was like "can't wait for the next chap" so…ha, yeah. I went back an reread the second chapter and realized I did kind of leave it open-ended. Thus, I'm continuing with this as a chapter-fic.

Suddenly

Part Three: Wishes

As Rukia struggled to move her body, her eyes grew wide in fear at the look he gave her. Shirosaki walked over to her, and she noticed his form flickered like a projection of an image would. The hollow opened his mouth to speak, but a woman's voice came out. "Rukia, no!"

"Orihime?" the Shinigami asked toward the familiar voice. Her eyes flashed open and she found that she was back inside of Urahara's Shop. She let out a groan of pain from a headache. Damn, what happened?

"Rukia!" Ichigo exclaimed and ran over. "Hey," he greeted and crouched down.

She tried sitting up, only to be pushed back down by the substitute Shinigami. She didn't realize the bandage wrapped around her head, and she also hadn't realized that her pillow was Orihime's lap. "Nnn…what happened?"

There was a long pause--too long for Rukia to bear. As she was about to speak up, Ichigo spoke. "Rukia…you walked in front of a car." His eyes averted to the side. "What were you thinking, dumbass?!"

"I did?" Piece by piece, the memory of the impulse she felt came back to her. Her eyes widened. Why would I do such a thing?! her mental voice reprimanded. She received a knowing look from Ichigo, and her eyes widened in fear. "Ichigo…?"

He said nothing. "I'll be back to check on you later. I've gotta go home and make sure Yuzu and Karin are alright." He hadn't been home since last night. Without another word, he stood up and left the room, leaving only Orihime and Rukia.

"Are you feeling alright, Rukia?" the innocent voice of Orihime asked.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Thank you." Surprisingly, it was only her head that hurt. Her gigai must've been tougher than she thought coming out practically unscathed.

The sliding door opened to the room, and Urahara Kisuke walked inside. "Would you let me speak to Rukia for a moment?" he asked casually as he stepped closer to the two.

"S-Sure," Orihime replied and carefully shifted Rukia's head from her lap to a pillow. She was hesitant, but left nonetheless.

Rukia, now that Ichigo was gone, took the liberty upon herself to sit up. As Urahara's eyes bore into hers, she simply stared. He had something to say, she could tell, and whatever it was, she wasn't sure if she wanted to hear it.

"I see you didn't suffer from any serious injuries," he mused. When she nodded and said nothing, he decided to get to the point. "I've been researching this since last night when you were brought here." There was a pause, which the shop owner added in only to make her suffer. He mentally smirked at the anxiety he felt radiating off of her in waves. "There was a similar case, years and years ago. Not really the same circumstances, but similar."

"What do you mean?" Rukia's eyes narrowed.

"These dreams are realer than any old dream. I'm sure you're aware of that firsthand. But, what you don't know, is that the more these dreams occur, the more the person within the dreams can affect you outside of them."

Her eyes widened at the thought, and her body froze in place. Lips quivering, she struggled to reply. "Are…are you saying he can control me outside of my dreams?"

"Not at all. It hasn't gotten that far…yet. But as of now, I believe you're able to receive impulses. Strong ones. And, well, you've seen what they can do." Another pause was added in for his own personal enjoyment. He sat down in front of her, all joking aside. "You will probably become dependent on him. Also, these dreams have the ability to become permanent."

"Like…every time I go to sleep?"

He shook his head. "No, as in, one of these days when you go to sleep, you won't wake back up. It's inevitable, really, but with the previous case, it took a few months."

It felt as if her heart had ceased its violent attack against her ribcage and stopped altogether. "Does Ichigo know about this?"

"I was going to leave that up for you to tell him." With that, he stood up and headed toward the door. "Oh, and Rukia," he stopped, looking over his shoulder. "I wouldn't suggest doing anything…stupid." The sound of the door shutting hinted that he left.

Rukia's hands were balled up in her lap, shaking in fury. Her eyes shifted viciously around the room, jerking from spot to spot. I'm not going to let this happen. Laying back down, she clenched her eyes shut and tried to clear her thoughts. It didn't take too long until she started slipping into a light slumber.


She stood with Sode no Shirayuki in her hands, facing the darkness--which was everywhere. She forced the memory of her last dark dream out of her head and focused. And waited; waited for him.

"My, my, my. Someone's angry." The distortion of his voice taunted her more than ever, but she ignored the fear. "Is there something wrong?" The mocking of his tone was nearly unbearable.

"Stay out of my dreams," the Shinigami bit out boldly. An eruption of laughter filled her ears.

"Ruukiiiaaa!" She couldn't quite tell where he was, as it seemed his voice was everywhere. Rukia turned around, hoping he would stop toying with her.

When she felt hot breath on the back of her neck, she inwardly cursed at her paralyzed legs. "And just what do you plan to do if I don't?"

Forcing movement to return to her limbs, she whipped around and swung her zanpakuto in the direction of his voice. The lights flipped on, and as soon as her eyes adjusted, they searched the room. Landing on his form, she wondered how he got so many feet away from her so quickly. "I will kill you."

Again, laughter filled the small room, and he started to walk toward her.

"Dance,--!" her words were cut off as the Ichigo look-alike held a grip around Shirayuki's blade. No, this is my dream…I control what happens! she yelled inside of her head. Within a moment's notice, she found that the breath was knocked out of her as her back hit the floor. Rukia looked up to him as his legs stood on either side of her.

Lifting her by the front of her Shinigami uniform, he swung her into the wall. "You fool! I am not so weak-minded like him!" He walked over to her body that was slumped against the wall. "Isn't it sad that I can overpower you in your own mind?" Yes, because she was a weak-minded fool like Ichigo, but still, she intrigued him. When he saw her struggling to her feet, he threw a punch into her stomach, causing her to cough violently. Rukia's body fell forward, landing in his arms. Effortlessly, he threw her onto his right shoulder and began walking away.

Along the way, he picked up her zanpakuto, which she had dropped somewhere in the process of being thrown against the wall.

It was a few hours later that Rukia woke up inside of her dream, a different setting this time. There was no park or room now, but instead an open field that went on past the horizon. She jerked to a sit and scanned her new surroundings. "Where are you?" she yelled into the open air. Standing up, she twisted around a few times, trying to find him. "Damn it, where are you?!" She couldn't help the panic that flowed through her body. But, it was a different type of fright. It wasn't like she was afraid of what he was planning next--well, she was, but it wasn't the main reason. It was more that she felt as if her other half had been ripped from her…she was alone…

"You will probably become dependent on him."

Her eyes widened. Was that why she was panicking? She needed him? "No, I don't need that monster!" Half of her hoped that calling him that would draw him out. It didn't, and this only furthered her uneasiness. She started breathing erratically, her lungs hurting from the fast panting of hyperventilation. She then felt a hand come from behind her and press against her mouth. Her breathing slowed through her nose, and when she finally regained her steady inhalation, the hand let go.

Rukia took a moment to gather herself and her composure before turning around to face the hollow. However, instead of facing a hollow, she now faced the real Ichigo.

He had his regular scowl on his face. It was needless to say Rukia was shocked, and he could tell she was at a loss for words. "I don't have much time. I let him out to fight a couple of hollows so I could talk to you." This was partly true, and partly not. He wanted to talk to her, but couldn't he have done that in the real world? After all, he wasn't as restricted as his hollow was. No, the main reason he came here was to see inside of her head. What did she dream about? Well, besides that creep, anyway. His eyes scanned the field. "You're not too creative, are ya?" he taunted.

Rukia's eyes narrowed. She had forgotten all of her troubles, worries, and constant reminders of how she shouldn't be depending on Shirosaki just by hearing Ichigo's voice. Was she so easily side-tracked that way, or was it that he knew her well enough to do so? "Like you could do any better," she snorted. "I thought you came to talk to me," she reminded him in an annoyed tone of voice.

"Right." He was good at avoiding what his target conversational topic was--very good. "Listen, Rukia…I don't know what you're thinking, or why you think it, but you've got to snap out of it." His expression was hard and unflinching. "He is dangerous, even unconsciously. He's gonna suck you in, and you'll drown. I can't save you outside of the real world, Rukia."

So many things were thrown at her all at once, she wondered where to start her snappy replies. "I don't need you saving me, Ichigo." That was what she hated the most. Why did he always have to play the hero? "I'm disappointed that you don't have faith in me. Do you think I'd really allow myself to be drawn in? My will is stronger than that, dumb ass!" Her attempt to make her words seem light was an epic failure.

"So, if you can control yourself, why do you keep dreaming about him? Why did you jump in front of that car?" His eyes made her close her mouth, telling her it was no use covering up what she did. He knew. "Are you…" The blood rushed to his face, a light pink sitting on his cheeks. "Do you love him?" He shuddered at the word, not only because he hated the thought of her loving his hollow¾ let alone anyone else but him¾ , but because it was such a pansy word. Love. That word clashes with everything he tried to be: strong, courageous, the hero…

"No!" She almost responded to quickly. Taking in a fluttery breath, she closed her eyes and then opened them a moment later. "I don't know why I did that. I couldn't stop."

"Is he controlling you?"

Rukia thought back to what Urahara told her earlier. "No, not yet. But he can send impulses…strong ones," she grimaced.

With a nod, Ichigo sighed dismissively. "Well, I need to go." God knows what his hollow was doing. Sure, there were enough hollows to keep him occupied, but what if he got bored? It happened much too easily, and much too often. Ichigo absolutely hated letting that thing out, and surprised everyone--including himself--that he had let the beast out for a petty reason like this. "Do you want me to wake you up?"

"No!" This time, they were both positive it was a too-soon reaction.

"Alright."

Rukia watched as he stared at her, but at the same time through her. His reassuring smile offered her comfort, and she half-smiled in return. Silence wafted through the air, but it was a comfortable one. Before she knew it, Ichigo's figure became slightly indistinct, and at first, she thought she was waking up. Ichigo's form disappeared altogether.

Plopping down on the soft grass, she waited.


Author's Note: Sorry for taking a while, my internet was down. I hope you liked it (:

Many thanks to those who reviewed, and also a thanks in advance for those who are going to. -hinthint-