YAY! I finished! So happy it's done! FINALLY! I apologize it's so damn SHORT. I seriously was expecting it to be longer, but oh well! I'm sure you'll love it either way! Enjoy!

*I have to say for those who have not watched/read Bleach too far yet, there is a slight spoiler in here with Kaien so... YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.* ENJOY!

"You sure this is him?" Izuru asked. Byakuya nodded.

"This is Ichigo Kurosaki. He's the one who's been living in my house for this long." Byakuya said, spite filling his voice. Izuru nodded.

"Well, so far his file is blank," he said. Byakuya gritted his teeth. This couldn't happen. Not when he was this far. "I'll have to do further research, but I'm sure something will come up." he said confidently. Byakuya felt his rage boil. "Relax, Kuchiki. We'll find something. For now, go home. If they find out you're here after closing hours, I'll be out of a job, and you'll have quite a fine to pay." Izuru said. Byakuya sighed. He was right. He knew the rules and restrictions just as much as everybody else that works here.

Grabbing his coat, Byakuya made his way to the door. "Call me as soon as you find something." Byakuya said before leaving Izuru's office.

"No problem..."

It was over a week since the creek-date with Allison and Renji, when Rukia was noticing something odd about Ichigo. Instead of his now normally mellow and quiet attitude, Rukia could sense his building anxiety. It was very odd. It had started two nights ago when Rukia heard Ichigo panting and pacing in his room. Ever since then, he'd been acting strange. He rarely went outside and kept the light on in his room frequently. The worst part was that his nightmares had returned with full force. Ichigo was practically afraid to sleep. She could see the heavy dark bags under his eyes and him longing for rest. He also hardly talked to anyone and was even too afraid to see Chase. Rukia found this all weird. He stopped eating and was losing weight again. His behavior reminded her of a trapped animal. What could've caused this? It couldn't have been Byakuya. He had cut all communication from everyone in the house. He was rarely home and even his mood had risen to dangerous. He ignored Rukia and didn't speak to her or even look at her. This made Rukia upset. Very upset. Sure, Byakuya hadn't been the same since he quit his job, but to act like a jerk to her for something she hadn't done? That was just cruel.

It broke Rukia's heart to see him like this. Even Yoruichi was surprised to see Byakuya give her the cold shoulder, but Rukia couldn't focus on him for long because she knew Ichigo needed her. Every night she tried to sleep, she would hear the frightened yelps and heavy breathing following the terrifying nightmares Ichigo suffered. It made her heart ache. She wanted to help him, but she didn't know what to do. She didn't want to walk in there and startle him. But if she didn't do anything, Ichigo could relapse and get very sick again.

Sighing, Rukia sank into her bed and prayed Ichigo would be able to get some sleep. Why had he suddenly regressed back to his ways? No, he had gotten worse. Rukia was just thankful he hadn't fled yet, which she predicted was going to happen.

'Please don't leave, Ichigo...' Rukia thought, closing her eyes and trying to get some sleep. Ichigo was her only other friend she had. If he left, she knew he would also relapse back into a quiet depression and possibly get worse herself. The thought made her scared. She didn't want to be alone again, and she didn't want Ichigo to be alone either. She wanted him to stay here where it was safe and everyone loved him. Yoruichi, Renji, Allison, and even Kon and Chase. 'I don't want you to leave...'

It was almost midnight and Ichigo sat on his bed, tired and feeling sick. He'd barely eaten in two days and wanted to sleep, but everytime he closed his eyes, the horrible illusions replayed in his head over and over again. He couldn't stand these nightmares. He wished he could make them stop somehow. But so far, the only option to make them stop... was death.

'Don't go to sleep... don't go to sleep...' He told himself over and over again as his bagged eyes got lower and lower. 'Don't go to sleep, Ichigo... don't go to sleep.' he thought firmly. He forced his head up and stared at the ceiling with half-lidded eyes. Damn, was he tired. Tired didn't cut it. He was exhausted. He can't remember the last time he experienced this phobia of sleeping before, but he did remember the first nightmare he ever had. He closed his eyes and his head fell, his chin touching the upper part of his chest. He had fallen asleep.

It was night number two since the accident. He had been running since that day and earlier during the morning, he had been captured. He was caught trying to jump an alley fence when they grabbed his leg and carried him away here, to this horrible isolated shelter. He was forced into a small room and interrogated about the fire of the small home on the border of the city's limits. He couldn't talk. He couldn't talk about what had happened. They wouldn't get a word out of him. It terrified him to even think about it. To see his mother's desperate face; tear-stained and covered in soot and ash. It made him scream and they finally gave up on trying to get anything out of him.

That night, he went to bed in his lonely room, with only a small bed, a tiny dresser, and a window with bars crossing the outside. It was like a prison here. He had a tight device on his ankle so that this place knew where he was 24/7 and the kids here were mean and nasty like junkyard dogs. There was also a lady monitor that had been watching him from the day he arrived here, and he was very weary of her.

He shivered in his sleep, scrunched under the light blanket he was given. His eyes were squinted shit and he was in a cold sweat. The nightmare he was having made him mumble in his sleep

"No..." he muttered as the bright flames lashed out at him in his sleep. The black smoke filling the air and suffocating him.

"No, no..." he shivered harder, the fire clearing and showing his mother and family in the middle of the blaze. He reached out his hand and called for them, but the fire whipped out at him again and cornered him and he watched his family perish in the flames.

"NOO!" he screamed, bolting upright in bed, panting and sweating furiously. Seconds later the door opened and his dark eyes darted to the silhouette, which appeared to be holding a whip. His eyes went wide and he backed up on his bed as the man came closer, and closer, before he let out an ear-piercing scream.

Ichigo's eyes bolted open and with a loud yell, he flew back, his head slamming on the window and giving him a migraine. He panted and gripped his heart. The horrors of that children's shelter. It haunted him periodically, and it looks like they were back.

"Damnit..." he groaned, putting his hands to his face. Tears rolled down his cheeks as his emotions raced through his body. Why did he have to feel this way? The past was the past, so, why was it coming back? What was triggering it again? He wondered if it was time to leave... he's been here long enough.

'I don't want to leave Rukia, but...' Ichigo looked down and wiped his tears away. He had that instinct in him to run again. The voice came back to his head and was screaming again. Telling him to run and to flee; escape to somewhere safer. But, he was safe? So, was it telling him to run again? What did he have to do to make the voices stop? He felt insane. He's heard of people like him who are bounded by white straps and placed in a lonely room. He didn't want that. He didn't want to be seen as some crazy nutcase.

A soft knock came on his door and Ichigo was knocked from his thoughts. "Ichigo?" came Rukia's soft voice. Ichigo gulped. He didn't want Rukia to see him like this. "Ichigo, I know you're awake. I can see your light is on." she said. Ichigo quivered. He really couldn't lie to Rukia, could he? But why would he? Rukia was so nice to him. "Can I come in?" she asked softly.

"... yeah..." Ichigo replied after a long pause. Rukia opened the door and walked in, closing it softly. If Byakuya knew she was sneaking in Ichigo's room, he'd most certainly kill her. She walked over to him and sat down next to him on his bed.

"Are you all right?" she asked him. Ichigo hesitated. He didn't want to tell her, but he couldn't lie anymore either. He knew she caught on to his strange behavior. "You don't have to tell me, but I just want to know if there is something I can do to help you feel more comfortable." she told him softly. He looked to her, somewhat shocked at her words. She wasn't the least bit persistent in finding out what was wrong with him? Though, if he questioned her about it, she just may pursue it even further.

Ichigo closed his eyes and turned away. He didn't want Rukia to be involved in his stupid behavior, and she shouldn't be coddling him. Nobody ever has before, and he didn't want it to start.

"I know you're tired... do you want something to help you sleep? I have some pills downstairs." she offered. Ichigo winced slightly. Was she suggesting she drug him? Really? He shook his head and kept his head down. Drugs were only a temporary relief to the pain he was feeling. It would just come back and he'd end up being addicted to the substance. "Is there anything you want me to do? I don't want to seem useless, Ichigo... just tell me and I'm here." she whispered quietly. Ichigo blinked away his tears. Why was she so persistent in helping him? Why did she want to help him so much? She wasn't responsible for him, but Ichigo did feel, for the first time in many lonely years, felt loved. He looked to her and with quivering eyes he said,

"Stay with me."

Rukia smiled slightly at him. "Of course," she agreed. Ichigo scooted over and wrapped his arms around Rukia. Rukia embraced him and lightly stroked his back. She felt him shiver at her touch. He still wasn't used to physical contact, yet he was still willing to step over his boundaries in order to get to Rukia. "I'm always here, Ichigo. I always will be if you want me to." she whispered. She felt his body relax and she soon realized that Ichigo had fallen asleep.

It was a very bright day and the sun shined inside the large house that sat comfortably in the middle of the suburban area. Giggles and laughter were heard coming from the living room. 8-year-old Ichigo and his favorite cousin were play-wrestling on the carpeted floor. He loved when his cousin babysat him while his parents went away for the day. It was a day full of fun and adventures.

He tackled his cousin to the ground, letting out joyous laughter. He heard a small thud and looked to his left. He saw that his cousin's wallet had fallen to the ground and opened. He looked in and saw a pretty young woman about his cousin's age.

"Hey, Kaien!" he yelled, picking up the black wallet and staring at the picture. "Who is this?" he asked. In a flash, his cousin snatched the wallet away and a light blush streaked his face.

"Oh, her? S-she's no one important..." he said, stuffing the wallet in his back pocket. Ichigo giggled again. He knew just how to push his buttons.

"Oh, I get it. She's your girlfriend!" he laughed. Kaien's face got redder as he sat back uneasily.

"Well, not really Ichigo, but she's like a girlfriend." he said. Ichigo looked up at his cousin.

"Like a girlfriend? You mean she's got germs just like the girls at my school? Yuck!" Ichigo exclaimed, sticking out his tounge in disgust. Kaien laughed.

"No, not that, Ichigo. Well, you know how your mom and dad love each other very much?" Kaien asked, pulling the little guy into his lap. Ichigo nodded. "Well, that's because your mom is very special to your dad, and that started when they were just girlfriend and boyfriend. They were special to each other and loved one another very much, and when that happens, people get married and live happy lives and sometimes even have children" he explained. Ichigo kept nodding his head, trying to understand what his much more mature cousin was getting at.

"So... you love her very much because she's special to you?" Ichigo asked. Kaien nodded.

"Exactly." Kaien answered.

"Do you plan on marrying her like Dad did to Mom?" he asked him. Kaien blushed.

"Well... we'll have to see about that. We're not too sure yet, and I- Hey! Why am I telling my relationship to a kid!" Kaien yelled, tickling Ichigo. Ichigo laughed.

"So, she doesn't have cooties?" Ichigo asked. Kaien broke out into laughter and ruffled Ichigo's hair.

"Of course not! You'll understand in a little bit what it's like to be a man, Ichigo." Kaien said. Ichigo was utterly stumped by what he said.

"I think that lady is pretty, Kaien." Ichigo said. Kaien smiled. "What's her name, Kaien?" Ichigo asked curiously.

"Her name is Miyako." he answered. "And she is the most special thing to me in the world, Ichigo. Anything special to you is worth fighting for, whether it be a person, an animal, or even an object that may seem unimportant in other people's eyes. You always fight for it no matter what and protect what you love the most with your life. Never give up and never let go of what you love the most. Never take those who are good to you for granted and always remember to-"

Ichigo's dream was cut short when his eyes shot open suddenly. He was lying on his stomach in his bed. He darted upward in a slight shock and looked around. He was still in Rukia's home, in his room, alone. He put a hand to his head. His cousin, Kaien... he remembered how he perished with the rest of his family... along with his girlfriend... he had proposed to her the night of the fire and his family had allowed her to spend the night. A night they would never wake up from.

Ichigo swallowed the enormous lump in his throat. He missed his family. He missed his home, his sisters, his mother and father, his cousin and his beautiful bride. He missed his life. But Kaien's words seemed to be replaying in his head.

'Anything special to you is worth fighting for.'

"Anything... special?" Ichigo repeated. Did he consider Rukia special to him? Maybe... just maybe. Speaking of Rukia, where was she? Last Ichigo remembered was hugging her then blacking out from lack of sleep. He looked to the clock and saw it was almost noon. Noon?! He slept in!

Leaping to his feet in a slight panic, Ichigo launched for his door and swung it open, forgetting the possibility of someone being on the other side and rammed into someone. He was ricocheted back against his door and gasped when he saw who it was.

"Watch it, you damned brat." Byakuya growled, straightening his clothes and giving Ichigo a death-glare. Ichigo froze, leaning against the wall, feeling like a trapped mouse. The gaze lasted for a minute before Byakuya walked away and down the stairs. Ichigo clutched his heart and sank to the floor. Never had he felt so scared in his life. That man... he frightened Ichigo. Ichigo had never spoken to Byakuya and rarely laid eyes on him. To actually ram into him and have him glare down at him and speak to him in such a spiteful tone. To think he was related to such a sweet, kind, brave sister. Rukia was completely the opposite.

After feeling his heart return to a normal pace and his stomach cease at doing cartwheels, Ichigo picked himself up off the floor and made his way down the stairs timidly. Luckily, Byakuya had left, but Ichigo was still visibly shaken and took his seat on the couch.

"Ichigo?" came the calm voice of Yoruichi. Ichigo darted his eyes to the doorway to the kitchen and saw Yoruichi walk out with Kon in her arms. "Are you okay? You look a little tense." she said, sitting down next to him. He nodded vigorously.

"Y-yeah, I'm-I'm okay... just... jumpy today..." he replied uneasily. Kon wriggled out of Yoruichi's grasp and forced himself into Ichigo's lap. He purred and rubbed himself up against Ichigo's chest. Yoruichi giggled.

"Look at that. He likes you." Yoruichi said. Ichigo nodded, putting a tentative hand to the cat.

"W-where's Rukia?" Ichigo asked after an awkward silence, getting a puzzled look from Yoruichi.

"She's at work, Ichigo. Today's only Tuesday." Yoruichi answered. Ichigo blushed. How utterly dumb of him.

"O-oh, yeah... I almost forgot..." he whispered in embarrassment.

"You've been acting strange lately, Ichigo. Are you all right?" Yoruichi asked. Ichigo dropped his head and remained silent. Yoruichi was stunned at his mood change. It was heartbreaking to see him go from such a positive human being to the shy and reserved boy she saw him be months ago. What had happened?

"No, Yoruichi..." he replied, catching her off guard. Ichigo then stood up, dropping Kon on the floor before starting his way back up the stairs to his room. Today was going to be a long wait for Rukia.

Byakuya's shift ended early today, which meant he was going to get home a few hours before Rukia. He wished he had somewhere else to go, but Byakuya didn't, and as the dark-haired man started to drive down the road, his phone rang. Thinking it was Yoruichi to remind him of something irrelevant or Renji with another new girlfriend issue, Byakuya didn't look at his phone before answering it.

"Hello..?" he said bluntly.

"You're not going to like what I found..."

Byakuya slammed on his brakes in the middle of the road, bringing his car to a painfully screeching halt.

"Izuru..." Byakuya breathed.

"Come to the office immediately..." was all that the blonde said before he hung up. After a few pounding heartbeats, Byakuya started his car again, and raced down the road, swerving on the next street to the town to the investigation offices.

Rukia's shift ended and Renji was on his way to pick her up and drop her off. To her surprise, Allison was with him along with Chase, who seemed to have gone through a massive growth-spurt. The dog's ears were no longer floppy, but straight up in an alert fashion and he looked built, but his fur was still lavishing and his eyes were still a golden-hazel color; the dog was overall handsome.

Rukia got in the car and enjoyed the ride home with Chase sticking his head out the window. It's been a while since the couple had stopped by and said hello, not that they missed anything major... beside Ichigo's weird mood changes.

"So, Rukia, how are you and Ichigo doing?" Renji asked. Rukia looked up, her face draining of its enthusiasm.

"Oh, well..." she paused, making the two become suspicious.

"Rukia, what's wrong with Ichigo?" Allison asked. Rukia couldn't get another word in before she glared at Renji. "You got him sick again, didn't you! I told you not to splash him!" Allison yelled.

"No, no! Ichigo's healthy... physically, but, I don't know. He's just been going down hill since a few days ago." Rukia said. Renji raised an eye brow.

"Like how?" he asked. Rukia sighed.

"Well, he hasn't been sleeping well. He's lost weight, and he's so jittery. Almost like a deer." she replied. "He's basically like he was when I first met him and I don't know why. He was doing so well, but now..." Rukia trailed off, looking out the window. The car was quiet for a while, even Chase stopped panting. As if he sensed the tension in the atmosphere.

"Maybe it's something psychological?" Allison suggested. If she said it wasn't, it'd be a lie.

"Most definitely..." Rukia said. She decided. She was going to ask him tonight. It doesn't matter if he has an emotional breakdown or not. Rukia was going to ask Ichigo what happened to him. Where and how he got that scar, why he was alone, and why he runs...

Byakuya rushed through the doors of the investigation building and went straight to the elevator. Once to his floor, he raced to Izuru's office and without even knocking, he barged through the door, slamming it closed. Izuru jumped at all the noise Byakuya made, but it was understandable. The worst was yet to come.

"Izuru." Byakuya breathed in a deep tone. Izuru took a deep breath, a look of absolute shock on his face. "What did you find, Izuru? Answer me now." Byakuya hissed. Izuru gulped and looked down at his screen.

"You take a look for yourself." Izuru said, moving over to allow Byakuya to look at the screen. As soon as his eyes finished what he read, he gritted his teeth and nearly crushed the mouse.

This... was Ichigo Kurosaki.

Byakuya didn't take another moment to re-read what he saw and stormed out of the office. Fearing the worst, Izuru jumped from his seat and ran to the doorway just as Byakuya left the room.

"Byakuya, wait! Don't do anything drastic! Izuru yelled, helpless as Byakuya disappeared through the elevator.

The flames were chasing him. They were chasing him again, matching his speed as he ran as hard as he could. Tears fell from his eyes as he panted hard, trying to get away from the monster that took his parents.

'Don't stop running! Keep going!' the voice screamed in his head. He wouldn't stop. Not for the world.

The flamed nipped at his ankles, making him scream for mercy. He kept running, but the fire kept getting closer and closer the faster he ran. What was going on? Why does this keep happening? He had to run. He had to. He couldn't stop. He couldn't!

A bright light shined in front of him; not of fire or heat, but of something heavenly. Then the feminine figure appeared. Ichigo's eyes widened despite the bright light that burned his retinas. He knew that figure. He knew it. He knew it all too well.

"Mom!" he screamed. "Mom, help me!" the 15-year-old screamed. He extended his hand to reach her. He was so close. He was so very close, but her light began to fade and his heart began to beat so hard, he swore it would burst out of his chest in a bloody rupture. "Mom, no! Wait for me!" he screamed, trying to chase her dying light, his eyes wide and tears sprinkling from his ducts. "Mom!" he cried loudly, but just as he was an arm's length away from her, her light died and flames shot out of the ground, making Ichigo grind to a halt.

He gasped as he stared at the wall of fire towering hundreds of feet above him, lashing and whipping out at him in an aggressive fashion. Gritting his teeth, Ichigo turned and darted the other way, only to be met by the same barrier of flames that was chasing him just seconds before. He was trapped. The blaze surrounded him; cackling evilly and whipping towards his feet. Ichigo backed up and hit a blackened tree, staring wide-eyed at the flames lashing towards him. This wasn't happening again. This couldn't. Not again. Why do the flames keep coming back.

"NO!" Ichigo screamed, but his screams were deafened by the loud cackling of the blaze. It looks like he was going to die a slow painful death.

Renji arrived at Rukia's house and stopped the car. Everyone got out and walked up to the door. Renji flinched at the sudden faint rumble of thunder in the distance. He hadn't noticed the darkening sky as he drove to the quaint house. Looks like there was going to be a storm.

"Looks like a storm's coming." Renji said. Allison shivered.

"Ew! I hate storms! I don't like the thunder." she whimpered. Renji wrapped an arm around her and pulled her close.

"That's the last thing you have to worry about with me around, Allison." Renji said slyly. Rukia rolled her eyes. He was trying WAY too hard... Allison giggled and wrapped her arms around Renji. She was so much shorter than him. Like Rukia was to Ichigo, but Allison was way taller than Rukia. The one thing Rukia envied about everyone over 4'11.

Everyone entered the house, including Chase, and settled in quite quickly.

"Hello!" Yoruichi greeted everyone, getting a gleeful bark from Chase.

"Ya know, I'm really glad you're getting used to dogs again, Yoruichi. I think it's healthy." Renji commented. Yoruichi smiled and knelt down to pet Chase.

"Yeah, I think so too. I'm glad it helped Kon get over his fear of dogs." she said.

"Speaking of Kon, where is he?" Allison asked.

"Yeah, and do you know where Ichigo is?" Rukia asked suddenly.

"Last I saw Kon, he was on the windowsill in the kitchen. As for Ichigo, he went upstairs a while ago. I haven't seen him since." Yoruichi said. Rukia instantly became worried. She hoped he didn't do anything drastic. "He seemed tired when he woke up earlier today."

"I'm going to go check up on him." Rukia said, rushing up the stairs. Once to his room, Rukia knocked on his door softly. "Ichigo, I'm home. Are you okay?" she called. There was no answer. Fearing the worst, Rukia turned the door knob. "Ichigo, I'm coming in." she said before barging into his room.

Rukia found Ichigo on his bed, tossing and turning and murmuring something she couldn't quite understand. It was clear he was having a nightmare. He was in a cold sweat and he had a very painful-looking grimace on his face. Rukia ran to his side and began to shake his shoulders roughly.

"Ichigo, wake up!" Rukia yelled. Within an instant, Ichigo's eyes snapped open and bolted upright, nearly smacking Rukia. Rukia had ducked in the nick of time and looked at Ichigo with a shocked expression. "Ichigo, snap out of it!" Rukia yelled. Ichigo's looked to her, fear deep in his eyes. Rukia stood there, looking into his dark-brown orbs. "Ichigo..." Rukia breathed. Ichigo sat there, panting and staring at Rukia, his heart and mind racing. Rukia walked over to him and sat down next to him. "Ichigo, what is wrong?" she asked him. Ichigo was still frozen in place. He couldn't believe he almost hit Rukia. If that would've happen, he didn't know how Byakuya would react.

Rukia leaned forward and picked up Ichigo's hand and clasped it in hers. "Ichigo," she said softly. Ichigo looked into her amethyst eyes. "For these past few months, I've been quiet." she started. Ichigo didn't take his eyes off of her. "Ichigo, I think it's time I know the truth." she said. Ichigo's eyes went wide. "Ichigo... what happened to you? Tell me your whole story, Ichigo. I want to know why you're so skittish. Why you were alone. Why you have these endless nightmares almost every night." she said. Ichigo shook his head, starting to pant harder.

"No..." he muttered. Rukia tightened her grip on his hands.

"Ichigo, I know a few things already about you. The night when you were in the hospital, I saw the scar." her words made Ichigo go cold. How did she know that? How? "I saw the scar and the night when you came back home, you told me you run from pain. What pain are you running from, Ichigo?" she asked him. Ichigo felt his heart stop. His emotions were racing through his body. He couldn't handle it. He couldn't. "Ichigo, you can tell me. I promise not to tell a soul. What happened to you?" she asked. Ichigo couldn't tell her. He's never told anyone his past. No one ever pursued it besides the cops when it happened. Everything that happened came flashing back into his mind like lightning and he felt overwhelmed.

"Rukia, I-" he stuttered. Rukia felt his hands tremble and gripped them harder.

"Ichigo, please tell me. I want to know. I promise my life I won't tell." she whispered. Ichigo looked into her eyes again. He could tell she wasn't lying. Rukia's never lied to him since he been here, and she deserves to know. She's been the kindest person to him in a very long time and till this day, he still believes it's all a dream. Sighing, Ichigo pulled away from her and looked down.

"... you wanna know the truth?" Ichigo suddenly said darkly. Rukia hesitated for a moment.

"Yes." she finally said firmly. "Please, tell me."

"All right..." he agreed. "I'll tell you, but promise me you won't judge me, hurt me, or throw me out..." he begged. Rukia nodded.

"I promise. Your secret is safe with me." she said softly. With a shaky sigh, Ichigo began.

"It was around ten years ago when I was just eight-years-old. I had a happy life. I loved my family. My mother, father, and my two sisters. Even my cousin was living with us for a little while." Ichigo explained. Rukia listened intently. "My house caught fire in the middle of the night. My mother and family sacrificed their lives to insure I was safe. To make sure I would survive, my mother had made a hole through the side of the house." Ichigo reached under his shirt to touch his scar. "I got this scar from the jagged wood that sliced through my skin. It was the end result from my mother's desperate attempts to save my life." Ichigo looked up at Rukia. His eyes were red and watery. "I saw my family die before my eyes. The house collapsed and crushed my family under tons of burning rubble. That night I ran. I ran as my mother told me to before she died. I ran and kept running and never looked back. I've been running from that place for over ten years, Rukia. I keep running and running and never get anywhere. It's like what happened is chasing me, hunting me down. I later realized I was running from my own fear. I was running from the countless nightmares that haunt me and torment my mind endlessly day in and day out and I can't escape. I can never get rid of these mental scars." Ichigo began to slowly break down. The hot tears finally poured out of his heavy eyes and streamed down his cheeks. He could feel his body shake, trying to fight off the threat crying. Rukia sat in a stunned silence. She was speechless. She didn't know what to say. "After two days if running, police caught me. They put me in this awful kids' shelter. The kids were mean and brutal, and there was a lady monitor who tried to molest me countless times in my sleep." Ichigo's sentence made Rukia's stomach churn. Disgusting people. "While I was there, they tried to interrogate me. I couldn't talk about what happen. I cried and got physically sick over it. That's when the nightmares began. I would wake up screaming and they'd beat me for it. For four years I lived there. Then, a rumor started that I was the one who set my home ablaze. They said because I was the only survivor, I set the fire and killed my family. That I was the murderer who did it. I'm not a murderer... I'm not." Ichigo sobbed, looking down again. Rukia felt her own eyes well up with tears. What happened with Ichigo... it's heartbreaking. "once the rumors started, I sought out any chance to flee, and I got my chance when I was fourteen. I was outside during school and hopped the fence surrounding the courtyard. Two supervisors that were hired to monitor me took chase and I ran as fast as I could. I finally got rid of them when I got to a river and I jumped. I was washed away to another city and that's when I continued to run. Since then, I've never stopped running. For more than ten years I've been running from everything." Ichigo turned his head away as tears soaked his face. Rukia saw he was clearly traumatized by what happened. She can't imagine her brother dying on her, even if he is an asshole. She hated seeing Ichigo this hurt.

"Ichigo..." she breathed quietly.

"I couldn't trust anyone, Rukia. No one. People I met were cruel and inhumane. When I was 11, a couple took me into their home and shortly after the woman made a hideous move on me and her husband almost killed me. He beat me and threw me out on the curb. When I was 15, I was sent to jail for an entire night after a group of kids mugged me. People I've met are not trustworthy, Rukia." Ichigo's tone became defensive. He looked up at her, his eyes red and wet from his tears. There was a look of resentment and hatred in his dark eyes; a look Rukia has never seen. "I contemplated suicide more times than I can remember. In fact, when I was fourteen, I tried committing suicide by running into a highway, but the traffic swerved and I caused a severe accident instead. I fled from that scene, not knowing who I hurt or possibly killed. I can't trust anyone Rukia. Not anymore. I can't... I-I simply can't..." he croaked. Rukia looked away, her heart aching and her face hot with emotion. His words... They hurt her. They hurt her bad.

"... you... you trust me, don't you, Ichigo?" Rukia muttered. Ichigo looked at her. His heart suddenly went numb. He completely forgot about her. She looked up at him with tears slowly sliding down her cheeks. It broke his heart. This is the first person who Ichigo has seen he's hurt.

"R-Rukia... I... I..." Ichigo was speechless. He could only gape at the woman in front of him. Rukia turned her back to him. Ichigo felt like the biggest idiot in the world.

"I thought we were friends..." she cried. Ichigo panicked. He was friends was Rukia! He did like her as a friend and... and he did like her. Ichigo slowly scooted next to her and opened his mouth to say something, but found it hard.

"R-Rukia, I... I am your friend. I didn't mean to hurt you. I do trust you. You're the only person who I've ever really trusted in my life and... and..." Ichigo trailed off. Rukia looked over her shoulder back to Ichigo. His face was flushed red with emotion. "Thank you..." he whispered. Rukia turned to face him. Just as he laid eyes on hers, she flung herself forward and wrapped her thin arms around him. Ichigo shuddered madly at first, startled by Rukia's movements, but when he felt her hug, he couldn't help but embrace her tightly. He needed this. He's wanted this for years.

"You're welcome, Ichigo... I'm so sorry about what happened, and I'm sorry I can't do more, but... I'm glad I met you. You don't need to run anymore." she said softly. Ichigo hugged her tightly. He didn't want to let her go. Not ever, but it had to end eventually and Rukia broke away. Ichigo gave her a grateful smile and wiped his tears away.

"How can I ever repay you?" Ichigo asked her. Rukia smiled at him.

"Stay with me?" she asked innocently. Ichigo chuckled slightly.

"Of course... I'd love to. There isn't anything else in the world I'd love to do more" Ichigo said gratefully. Those were the words Rukia wanted to hear.

'Maybe... maybe I'll have a chance.' Rukia thought. She scooted closer to Ichigo and put her hands to his and looked to his eyes again. "Ichigo..." she started shyly. "I... I've wanted to tell you something." she said softly. Ichigo blinked at her. "I wanted to tell you that I..."

"RUKIA!" The two jumped at the sound of the angry voice. Seconds later, Byakuya bursted through Ichigo's door. Rukia and Ichigo jumped to their feet at the sight of the angry man.

"B-Byakuya? What-"

"You, get out." Byakuya growled at Ichigo, interrupting Rukia. He took a step towards Ichigo. Ichigo backed up to the wall, shaking in fear at the tall man.

"Byakuya, stop!" Rukia screamed. Byakuya glared down at Ichigo. He wanted to do nothing more than to choke him.

"Get out, you murderer!" he shouted. Ichigo felt his heart stop and his face pale. No... no, this couldn't...

"Byakuya, stop!" Rukia screamed again.

"I said, GET OUT!" Byakuya roared. Ichigo flinched and when he saw Byakuya pull out his pistol and point it at him, he swore he saw his life flash before his eyes.

CLIFFHANGER! MUAHAHA! I'm evil! Get ready for some action-packed suspense and excitement for the next chapter! Please Review!