Chapter 3: Departure
The next day, Ichigo and Orihime arrived in class, all happy and smiley. Once they arrive, they see Rukia in front of the class. "Oh! Kurosaki! Inoue! Please take your seats, Kuchiki has an announcement," the teacher ordered them to do that, and they listened. Orihime notices Ichigo and Rukia not even looking at each other but she still waved a "Hi" to Rukia and Rukia did the same. "Kuchiki, why don't you explain your news." Rukia nodded and slowly turned to face the class. She stared at everyone. Her friends she has met, the people who were close to her and everyone who made her laugh and smile. She had to say what she wanted to say. "I'm sorry to say this to all of you but I made great friends. Sadly, this is my last day of school here, and I'm not sure when I'm coming back. Maybe, never." Everyone in the class were shocked, even Uryu, Chad, Orihime and also Ichigo. Orihime looked at Ichigo, then she gave a look to Rukia who was also looking at her. Rukia gave Orihime the stare of "You know what to do when I'm gone" look. Orihime remembered and nodded. Rukia closed her eyes and showed a small smile. In Orihime's thoughts, "Why now? Rukia….do you know how much your hurting Ichigo, right about now."
Ichigo stared at Rukia and suddenly stood up from his seat. "Rukia, your not serious, are you?" Everyone in class were silent and looked at the two. Rukia crossed her arms. "I'm not lying, I'll probably never come back." Ichigo hit the desk with his fist. "Just because of me, isn't it?!" Everyone started to whisper to each other about what's going on. "Hey, Ichigo, don't yell at Rukia like that." Uryu told him. Rukia gave him a weird look and Ichigo was confused. "What are you talking about, you need to clean your damn ears, I'm moving away with my family, I'll be fine, buddy," Rukia smiled. Ichigo thought that maybe she forgot what he told her last night. Did she forget? No. She could have been acting so he won't notice. But the way Rukia acted, didn't seem like she was sad.
After school, Rukia was getting hugs from her friends as she said her good-bye's. Ichigo watched her. He was in deep thought, thinking about only Rukia. Orihime touched Ichigo's shoulder and looked at him. "Spend time with her, before she leaves for the soul society." Ichigo looked down to the ground. Orihime then puts her hands to her hips. "Come on! Ichigo, do it…just for me..Rukia is a great friend to the both of us at least let yourself hang with her just a bit, it's okay with me." Ichigo looked at Orihime. Orihime smiled.
That night, Ichigo went in his room and he see's Rukia packing some of her things. He leaned his back on the door and crossed his arms. Rukia see's him and stops packing. She sit's on his bed and looks straight at him. Under the bed, Kon sneaks a peek at the conversation. Ichigo notices that Kon was under the bed but he didn't bother telling him to leave. "Ichigo. Thank you for letting me stay. I appreciate it." Ichigo rolled his eyes. "This is your home, too" Rukia stared at him. Ichigo gave out a sigh and walked over to Rukia and sat by her. " So, you decided to go back to the soul society?," he asked.
Rukia nodded. " I see." Ichigo layed his head on her shoulder. Rukia sat there and didn't bother moving Ichigo away. "Ichigo?" "Hmm?" "Can I play the guitar, one last time?" Ichigo laughed a little. "Go ahead." Ichigo got up and grabbed his guitar and handed it to Rukia. "I practiced playing this one song while you were having your lovey dovey time with Inoue." Ichigo pinched her cheek lightly. "Oh shut up. She only needed help studying and I could barely give her a kiss." Rukia laughed. " Your horrible, haha," They both were quiet again but between them it seemed like their friendship was back to normal. Ichigo looked at Rukia. "Play a song," he asked. Rukia positioned the guitar the way Ichigo showed her. Then she played. The tune of the song she played sounded sad. As she played, Ichigo thought he knew the song but he didn't remember the name of it. It sounded so sad that this song that Rukia played, bothered his mind. "Don't go, anymore.." When Ichigo said that Rukia looked at him and stopped playing. "Don't go.." Ichigo took the guitar away from her, slowly placed his hand on her face. Both faces close together and this time he kisses her. Rukia cried as they both kissed during the night. It felt so wrong to her. To him, he didn't want to let her go. Rukia stops the kiss but her face was still close to Ichigo's. "Please…stop…" She slapped him gently but left her hand on his cheek. " You….shouldn't have kissed me, it's more harder to say…good-bye.." Both had tears in their eyes. " Rukia, please don't go.."
Ichigo layed his forehead on her shoulder. "Please.." Their cries of sadness was suffering the both of them. Rukia tries to give a smile and pushes him away from her gently. "Good-bye, Ichigo." She grabbed her things and jumped out of the window to meet up with Renji and Byakuya to go back to the soul society. As she left, Ichigo was crushed in the heart, he really didn't want her to leave. Kon watched as Ichigo cried more and he cried himself. "Oh Rukia, you leave this carrot-head like this, he won't be able to smile again."
Four months later….