Thanks for the reviews you guys...lol ENjoy this chapter its long

Chapter Two : Of Anger, Bitterness and Confusion

Her blue eyes widened, the green tea frappuccino she was holding thudded noiselessly to the carpet.

"Ichigo?" her voice was quiet, but she tried to hide her surprise by picking up the plastic glass she dropped casually.

Ichigo was still dumbstruck as she turned to look at him again. She was smiling this time, "So, how are you doing?"

He looked at her in disbelief. It had been seven years and all she could ask was that? Not even apologize?

"I'm fine," he answered curtly, resuming his drinking.

She seemed surprised but she sat across him anyway. Rukia was still the same, he noted. Her black hair was probably a little longer, her face more mature, but she was still the same. Same height, same blue eyes, same alabaster skin. The clothes she wore were the same style as she did years ago; a simple sunflower-colored hoodie and jeans.

She didn't look twenty-four, he thought, smiling, but quickly shrugged the thoughts away again.

In front of him, Rukia looked uncomfortable. She drank her frapuccino noisily, her eyes keep glancing at him, reading his expression.

"So, why did you came back?" he asked her casually, masking his anger and sadness. Why did she have to return when life was just going fine for him?

A flicker of something crossed her face. Could it be… fright? Whatever it was, she quickly hid it.

"Nii-sama decided to work here again," she said, smiling slightly, "The company's going well and all, and so I decided to come back too,"

Ichigo was silent, unsure what to say.

"I promised you I would," she continued, grinning, "What about you? Any girlfriends? Jobs?"

"Well, I'm a writer," he said sulkily.

Her eyes widened in surprise, "Really? Oh wow,"

He couldn't help putting on a smug grin, "Yep. Bestselling, too. Do you know my book An Autumn's Tale?"

She grinned, "Heard about it. The one about the happy, funny couple. That's you?"

Ichigo was beginning to feel his old self coming out again. A side he lost when she went away, "Uh-huh,"

"Hard to believe," she scoffed. When he scowled, Rukia laughed. For a moment, Ichigo was silent. Her laugh… it brought memories back. He found himself in his old house, watching a sixteen-years old Rukia laughed.

The sound was the same. It always brings comfort to his heart, but this time… this time it brought bitterness.

She seemed to notice his expression, "What's wrong?"

He shook himself out of his reverie, "Nothin',"

This followed an uncomfortable silence before she added, "What about your girlfriend?"

He shrugged, "You remembered Inoue, right?"

Surprise flitted over her face, "Inoue Orihime?"

He nodded.

"That's great! Congratulations!" Rukia laughed, poking him in the shoulders. Ichigo noted that she seemed awkward.

"Well, thanks," was all he could reply.

"How long have you two been going out?" she asked, a hint of humor in her voice.

"Well, three years after you left," Ichigo answered.

Like a switch, Rukia's expression changed. Her smile faded from her lips, her eyes regaining a distant look on it.

"Oh," she muttered, "That,"

Ichigo twitched uncomfortably in the suddenly dense atmosphere. "So, after you left what did you do?"

Her jaw hardened and Ichigo slapped himself inwardly.

Stupid, stupid. But he do wanted to know. He wanted to know how she's going through after they separated.

And he still wanted to get back on her somehow.

"Well, I…" she forced a smile, "I went to school near nii-sama's company and it all went great. The school's really nice,"

"No boyfriends?" Ichigo asked, trying to be casual, but he knew she could detect the curiosity in his voice.

"I met this guy a year after," Rukia explained, "His name's Hisagi Shuuhei…"

Ichigo couldn't help getting a little pissed. A YEAR? Just a year and she dated again? It took him three whole years, dammit.

"Well, we weren't exactly going out…" Rukia said, as though reading his thoughts, "He was really nice to me and we spent lots of times together but then he moved away,"

Yea. Like what you did to me, it's your karma, he thought.

"Anyway, around two years afterwards I met someone. His name is Kaien," Rukia continued, and Ichigo couldn't help noticing how her eyes seems to brighten, "He's really nice and cool and kind and I love him,"

Tch. No need to go through the details, thanks.

"What happened?" he voiced out loud.

"We've been together for two years but he died," her voice was quiet, but her smile never leave her face, "In a car crash,"

"I'm sorry," Ichigo said after a moment, and he meant it sincerely.

She grinned, "There was no need. It's been a long time ago."

"You missed him?"

Her face lost her mask for a moment, the sadness showing through. Ichigo knew she must love this guy more than anything. More than she used to love him, even.

"…Yeah," she finally answered, "I missed him a lot,"

Ichigo felt something he hadnt felt for quite a while. Jealousy. Sadness.

Rukia loves another guy? Somehow the thoughts made him angry. He had always been the only one in her eyes. But then she had left him.

Ichigo quickly shrugged away the feeling.

I wasn't jealous, he told himself, I might have loved her, but it's been a long time ago. Inoue's face flashed into his mind. Rukia and me, Our road had ended seven years ago. Now I have Inoue. I love her.

I'm happy.

He decided to take her mind off her boyfriend 'KAIEN', so he asked, "What about now? Any relationship with anyone?"

Her face changed. For a second he saw dread and confusion. Her skin became paler then usual, and her gaze flicked to her wristwatch.

"No, no boyfriend now," she flashed him a quick smile before standing up, "Sorry, Ichigo, I gotta go,"

He couldn't help feeling disappointed. Even though he's angry, he is happy seeing her. It seems… nostalgic.

"What? Like, right now?"

She pursed her lips apologetically, "Yeah, sorry. Er…uh, Nii-sama asked me to be back before noon," she took out a pen and took his right hand.

He flinched at the touch. Her hands still felt the same as always. Small and delicate.

"What are you doing?"

She scribbled something on his rough skin and grinned, "What? Don't you want to call me after these years?"

He flushed a little and scowled, annoyed. She still could joke? "Che. No," he replied in a monotone.

Rukia chuckled, "Thought you say you love me,"

"Whatever," he rolled his eyes as she waved him goodbye, running lightly down the lane. He could only watch her again, a smile tugging on his lips.

She was still the same.

Even all these years apart, even if they couldn't be what they used to, even if she had left him, she was still his best friend.

His nakama, his soul mate, whatever you wish to call it.

There. I'll post the next chapter tommorrow or in two days, I almost finished it. Keep reading to find out Rukia's secrets.

Dont forget to give me reviews, it's a girl's dreams. Thanks.