"Finally!" Road shouted falling onto the couch, "We're home!"

"Technically its not our home Road." Allen pointed out.

"It's ok, as far as I know, you'll be here a while won't you?" Ichigo asked.

"I guess, but are you sure its ok? We don't want to take advantage of you or anything." Allen replied.

"I do." Road commented with a smirk. Rukia came out of the kitchen eating a danish.

"Road, can you come with me to the store?" Rukia asked, "Strawberry here doesn't have anymore food."

"Since when do you shop for groceries?" Ichigo asked.

"Someone's got to," Rukia replied, "can't rely on your lazy ass."

"Hey!"

"I'll go," Road replied, "come on." Road was already halfway out the door and Rukia ran to catch up to her.

"And then there were two." Allen commented.

"Yep," Ichigo replied, "Ever played computer games?"

"Uhh...solitaire." Allen replied.

"Whoa, I gotta get you up to speed with the new games." Ichigo responded while hooking up his laptop and his sister's to the TV and handing Allen a controller.

"Hey Road, don't you think thats enough candy?" Rukia asked as Road continued to pile bags of candy onto the cart.

"You can never have enough candy." Road replied.

"Well you have to pick because we can't pay for all of it and the food." Rukia replied.

"Aww...ok, umm...these." Road pulled out two chocolate bars and a few lolipops.

"Then we're set." Rukia replied heading for the cash register. After paying for the food, and candy, they stopped by a shop that had a few Chappy the Rabbit merchandise. Road looked at Rukia with a what-about-me face, "You got your candy Road, I would've gotten some, but I knew this store was close.

On their way back Rukia was carrying two grocery bags and a twelve inch tall Chappy the Rabbit plushie, Road was also carrying two grocery bags and was licking away at one of her lolipops when she felt something wet fall on her cheek.

"Huh? Rukia did you feel that?" Road asked.

"Feel what?" As soon as Rukia finished her question a loud thunderclap broke though the air and rain suddenly poured down on them. "Fuck."

They guys were playing Halo on the computer when Allen heard the thunder outside.

"Hey, Ichigo, it started to rain. You think the girls are ok?" Allen asked looking at the window.

"Its just a little rain, they'll be alright if they stay out of-" Ichigo stopped himself. Rukia was almost as stubborn as he was when it came to situations like this, she'd probably be fighting her way though the rain! "Allen, get the tub ready with warm water and grab a few towels."

A little later Road and Rukia burst through the door shaking from the cold with arms wrapped around themselves and dropping the things on the table. Ichigo and Allen quickly wrapped towels around them both.

"Ichigo, take Rukia to the bathroom, the water's ready." Allen ordered and Ichigo nodded doing as told. Allen looked down to see Road pressing up against him.

"Allen, your so warm." She commented. Allen wrapped his arms around her, trying to keep her warm.

Ichigo finally came downstairs with Rukia. She was in a pair of sweat pants and one of Ichigo's shirts. "Next." Ichigo said to Allen. Allen nodded and led Road upstairs and into the bathroom. He quickly turned around and left to get her dry clothes.

When Allen returned, he knocked on the door and Road opened it just enough for Allen to give her the clothes he found; a pair of sweat pants, his own shirt, and his exorcist coat. Road got out of the bathroom and let herself be led by Allen downstair to eat some soup.

"Hey, where's Chappy?" Rukia asked.

"I put him in the wash," Ichigo replied, "It was begining to smell a bit." There was a loud buzzing sound and Ichigo went to check it out. When he returned, he was holding the plushie and handed it to Rukia who grabbed it and hugged it tight.

"Its softer than before!" Rukia commented, "Thank you Ichigo!" She tiptoed and gave Ichigo a kiss on the cheek.

"Ah-Ah-choo!" Everyone turned to Road who was starting to leak mucus from her nose, "I don't feel so well." She commented weakly. Allen placed a hand on her head.

"Wow, I didn't want to believe it." He said, "but you're actually sick! Never thought a Noah could get sick." He laughed.

"We don't," Road replied flatly, "but i guess since we're not really where we were, the bacteria here is probably stronger than what I'm used to. Meaning you'll probably get sick too." Allen thought for a moment.

"If that means you'll take care of me, then I don't care!" He said with a smile. Allen Picked up Road and carried her to Rukia's room, Ichigo and Rukia followed.

Allen placed Road on the bed and just as he did Road began to have a coughing fit. Allen rubbed her back in an attempt to supress her cough. "I think I got some cough medicine somewhere, I'll be right back." Ichigo said as he left the room. Rukia left to get something without giving notice and returned with a chocolate bar that they had bought earlier. Road thanked Rukia and ate the chocolate bar, enjoying the sweetness before her cough came back.

Ichigo returned with the cough medicine and gave it to Allen who helped Road sit up to take it. "She'll be fine," Ichigo reported, "It seems to just be a minor cold. A little rest and she'll be better by tomorrow or the next day."

"If you say so." Allen responded and gave Road a kiss on the forehead as he left the room with the others so that she could sleep.

The next morning Allen went to check on Road. He placed a hand on her forehead, "ICHIGO!" Allen yelled with great concern in his voice as he went for a wet towel. Ichigo came full speed to the room, smashing into the doorway as he tried to make the sharp turn.

"What's wrong?" Ichigo asked.

"You tell me!" Allen snapped, "She's burning up! I could cook and egg on her head!"

Ichigo quickly went to the medical fridge and pulled out several icepacks. Road shivered at the touch of the packs, which woke her up in the process. "Allen?" She called wealky, "Why am I cold?"

"Its just the ice packs, you have a high fever." Allen replied taking her hand and sitting next to her.

"I'm ok," Road replied weakly, "just...going to...rest...my eyes... a bit." Allen looked at Ichigo.

"Hey, I don't live in a clinic for no reason," he commented, "I'll get a few things together."

Rukia walked in and was about to ask what was wrong when Road broke out in a coughing fit. "I'm sorry, this is my fault." Rukia said.

"Its not your fault Rukia," Allen replied, "Road just didn't know that her immunity wouldn't protect her."

Rukia looked at the ground, still blaming herself. "Hey Rukia, why don't you make Road some soup?" Allen asked, "I'm sure she'd appreciate some right now."

"Okay." Rukia replied and left to make some soup. When she returned Road was mumbling in her sleep, Ichigo was going over some of his father's files, and Allen was pacing nervously.

"I'm sorry Allen," Ichigo began, "but there's nothing else I can do. Form what I can make out its a simple cold, but it just happened to hit Road hard. Probably because she hadn't gotten sick before." Allen ran a hand through his hair in frustration and noticed Rukia at the door with the soup.

"Oh, thanks Rukia." Allen said as he took the plate from her. He went to sit beside Road and gently shook her. Road slowly opened her eyes halfway.

"Allen? What's wrong?" she asked weakly.

"Well you didn't eat, so Rukia made some soup for you." Allen replied helping Road sit up slightly. Road managed to grab the spoon, but dropped it seconds later.

"I hate feeling so weak." she commented.

"Here, let me help you." Allen grabbed the spare spoon Rukia brought and dipped it into the soup. Lifting Road's head with one hand he fed her with the other, making sure not to spill any and the soup wasn't too hot when he fed it to her.

After Road finished her soup she laid her head on Allen's lap and fell asleep. "Hey, I know you want to comfort her, but she's contagious right now and I can't really say that you won't be hit as hard." Ichigo commented.

"It doesn't matter." Allen replied. Road began to stir in her sleep. "Road?"

"Hey, where'd Rukia go?" Ichigo asked. Allen turned to see an empty door way.

Road was walking in the darkness, enjoying her stroll though nothingness. "This would be better if Allen were here." she said to herself, "What the hell?" Road could make out a figure in the darkness lying on the ground.

As she approached, she felt the temperature drop sharply. "Huh? No, no way." Road recognized the female figure on the floor. Her raven hair scattered all around her, her once shining purple eyes were now dark and empty, and her face that used to smile as if she knew the outcome of any situation was now lifeless with her lips parted and blood streaming out of the corner.

Road tried to make sense of what happened, "Road," she froze at the familiar voice behind her, "What did you do?"

Road spun around and confirmed her fear, "ALLEN!" Allen was looking at the body in horror and Road knew what he was thinking, "Its not what it looks like!"

"Road...you promised...how could you do this?" Allen asked in disbelief, "And to Rukia no less! After all she did for you!"

"No, Allen! I didn't do it!"

"You deny it even though the proof is there!" Allen pointed at an object sticking out of Rukia's abdomen.

'When did that get there!?' Road thought to herself when she recognized the object, a sharpened candle with the end lit.

"ALLEN, I SWEAR I DIDN'T DO IT! PLEASE BELIVE ME!" Road pleaded, tears began to fall freely from her eyes.

"Its too late." Allen commented. Road was shocked to see his face become lifeless. Allen fell sideways and hit the ground with a thud.

"ALLEN!" Road ran to Allen, picking up his upper body and hugging him close, "ALLEN PLEASE! DON'T GO!"

"Doesn't feel good does it?" said another familiar voice, "Losing someone you care about."

"Ichigo! Please, do something!" Road pleaded without moving.

"Oh, I'll do something," Ichigo replied brandishing his greatsword, "I'll avenge Rukia's death!"

"NO! PLEASE! ALLEN!" Ichigo plunged the sword into Road's back.