The next morning, Rukia's eyes opened as she found herself with strong, loving arms wrapped around her. She looked over and saw Ichigo's face next to hers. "

His arms are so strong and loving. If only we could stay like this forever." She thought.

"Good morning sleepy head." She heard his sweet, tender, caring voice say.

"Good morning." She told him as she gazed into his chocolate colored eyes.

"Did you sleep well?" He asked her.

"Yeah, except for the fact that we're still on the roof." She said

"Oh, I kind of forgot about that part." He said.

Rukia got up and Ichigo followed her as they both walked to the edge of the roof. Rukia's foot slipped on the slippery roof and she was about to fall off, when all of a sudden, she felt a strong arm catch her.

Rukia looked up and saw Ichigo staring back at her. "Careful there, next time I might not be able to catch you so quick."

He told her. "Mhmm." She agreed as she nodded her head and grabbed ahold of the ladder and climbed down the side of the house.

Ichigo followed her and then Rukia stepped onto the ground.

"KUICHIKI-SANNNNNN!!!!!!!!!!!! WAKEY WAKEY!!!!!" A voice yelled as it pierced through her eardrum.

"GAH!!!!!! WHAT THE HELL INOUE?! ARE YOU TRYING TO GIVE ME A HEARTATTACK?!" Rukia asked Orihime.

"Orihime? Have you been here all night?!" Ichigo asked.

"Hehehe... no." Orihime lyed as she put one hand behind her head.

"You have been here all night haven't you?" Rukia asked.

"Pretty much." She said with her head down in shame.

"Well, you need to go home and get some sleep." Ichigo said.

"Ok Ichigo!!! See you later!

Bye Kuchiki!!!" Orihime said. She ran off into the sunlight screaming something about pigs in pants and UFOs.

"Does she always do that now?" Rukia asked.

"Do what?"

"Pop up out of nowhere."

"Yeah. Pretty much."

"Ok, just double checking."

Ichigo opened the door to his house and walked in, with Rukia following him.

"So, Rukia, how was your time in the Soul Society?" Ichigo asked her.

"I hated it. It kept me away from you, so I found that I couldn't bear to be away from you any longer. So I had to return and see you again. I had to stay and be with you." Rukia told him.

"Well, no matter what the reason was, I'm just glad you're back here with me." He told her.

"No matter what, I'll always be with you. Even if you leave." He added.

"How so?" Rukia asked.

"Well, if you believe that two people are destined to be with each other, even where the two people are apart, you can sense that person's presence with you and you'll never be alone." Ichigo explained.

"Even when the two people are apart?" Rukia asked as she looked up at him.

"Even when they're apart." He smiled as he told her.

"Hey Ichigo?" Rukia said.

"What is it?" Ichigo asked

"Do you think that we just met by coincidence? Or do you think there was a specific reason?"

"Well, I think there was a specific reason."

"Why do you think we met?"

"I think that we were meant to be together."

Rukia looked up at Ichigo and smiled.

"I'm glad you feel that way." Ichigo grabbed Rukia's wrist and pulled her closely to him and embraced her.

"Rukia, I swear, if I have to follow you in death, I'll never leave you again. ever. You'll never be alone." He told Rukia softly.

"Ichigo..."

She smiled and wrapped her arms around his shoulders as they shared a warm, loving embrace for a long time.