"She's, like a bad habit," Ichigo chuckles as he turns the street corner, "I know it's wrong to talk to my cousin's fiancé, but I keep doing it anyways. I just need to get things straight."

"You're a sick bastard. Why are you even hitting on your cousin's girl?" Rukia gives him a look of disgust.

"Hey, he hit on her while he knew we were still together, so he's the bastard! Besides, I'm not even hitting on her, I'm just trying to make peace with her!" Ichigo pouted to her and she slaps his head.

"Keep your eyes on the road idiot! I don't want to get hurt!"

"Mean, hitting me in my worst condition." he turned his direction back to the road and continued driving. The two stayed in a long awkward silence as Ichigo kept driving to a destination unknown to Rukia.

"I'm sorry you had to go through that." Ichigo sighed. Rukia's eyes turned as big as saucers and her mouth hung open.

"Did you just apologize? As in a sincere apology?"

"Yeah, I sincerely apologized to you. This won't happen again so cherish the moment Rukia." Ichigo glances at her and sends her a small smile.

"Why did you apologize to me?"

"I just felt like it. You know, felt like saying the word to you."

"That's weird," Rukia raises an eyebrow. Ichigo shakes as he grips the steering wheel with all his might and a comical vein appears on the side of his head.

"Weird? Did you just call me weird?!" his head turns to her as he barks.

"No, I meant that it's weird apologizing out of nowhere." Rukia juts her face closer to his as she too gets the vein.

"A person like me apologizes to you and you call them weird? You're such an insensitive jerk," he moves his face closer to hers, "Most girls would swoon over me and blush and, and, like..."

"Well, Kurosaki-san, maybe if you haven't noticed," Rukia raised her octaves to a higher than normal pitch, "Kuroki-san is like those girls." she dropped her voice back to normal.

"Don't you dare change the subject! Anyways, you won't be like those girls," he looks up and down at her, "you're short, you dress like my dad, and you have a smaller than average bust size. I'm not into you anyways."

"That's really relieving."

"I forgot to add, you're also very unladylike. I should get Miyako to teach you manners." Ichigo scoffs at her. Rukia rolls her eyes and lets out a big sigh.

"I don't get it. You hate her, but you love her and can't stop thinking about her."

" I don't love her, I just need to get things straight. Like I said before, she's a bad habit, I hate what I'm doing, but I can't stop it." Ichigo looks outside and then abruptly stops sending Rukia to jolt forwards.

"What the hell was that for you freaking bas-"

"This is where, Miyako and I first met." Ichigo's gaze turn melancholy with the memories of her.

"You guys met at the cemetery," Ichigo ignored her and got out first, "hey, Ichigo! Why did you take me here?"

"Get out the car and I'll tell you why." He turned around and shrugged his shoulders at her. Rukia followed behind Ichigo on the pavement-less trail and to a bench under a tree. He sat down first leaving Rukia standing a few feet away from him, the tree, and the bench. Where she stands, a few lavenders grew.

"You took an oath to listen without interrupting me so now listen," Ichigo looks at the bench points next to his seat, "Right here, is where she and I met. Call it an accident, fate, or whatever you want, but I truly believed that fate has brought Miyako and I together here."

He turned to Rukia who now sat down next to the lavenders with her knees to her chest, intrigued in his story.

"Although maybe, someone like you may not believe in fate, I do, or at least I used to. You see, we met when I was 9. Right then," Ichigo stopped suddenly. He thought of that day, the day his life changed. The loud noises and the heavy object on top of him. He heard people shout and he woke up to...

"Ichigo?" He snapped out of his thoughts to look at the small lady below him, lavenders in her hands and a concerned look on her face.

"I said don't interrupt me," he scowled at her and she glared back at him. He softened his expression and began again," well, long story short, I had a lot of family issues at that moment and... she was like... an angel. An angel who guided me through darkness. I was here one afternoon and she tumbled down from the tree, literally," he stopped and let out a chuckle, "I was surprised she didn't break a bone or something. I think because of her strong will, I fell for her. She is a couple years older than me, 3 years exactly, but that made me like her even more. She's mature, nice, and had this heart of gold. By the time I was 13, I realized that I loved her. I was madly in love with Miyako. Her words motivated me and when I was in doubt, she made me a better person. When I was 16, I finally had the balls to ask her out. We started to date and I was so happy that she didn't reject me because of our age difference. When I was 17, she had helped me in my darkest times and I was glad she was there in my life to help me and I knew I won't let her go, not easily. I had even decided that, if I lived 5 lives, I would love to spend all those 5 lifetimes with her. I was 18 when she had told me she liked guys with darker hair color, I went my ways and dyed my hair black for her. She had met my cousin when I was 20, or I had thought so. That was when everything went downhill. Later that year, I found out she has been cheating on me. She met him years ago, back when I was 18. They hit it off, and ever since then, she had been cheating. Her smile played it off well. I guess you can say, the girl I was devoted to, she's the one that made my world crumble. I'm over her, but yet, I feel like I have left unfinished business between us. My theory is, it didn't take me a year to realize I love her, so it won't take me a year to get over her. It has been 5 years, I'm over it, but here she is, tumbling back into my life and I don't know why I feel hurt and betrayal again."

Ichigo turned to her. She sighed deeply and ran a hand through her hair. Rukia threw the lavenders on the floor and took a deep breath.

"Look Ichi-"

"I'm done," Ichigo got up and left Rukia, "let's get in the car."

"Hey, wait!" Rukia got up as fast as she could, wiping the dirt off of her wet bottom and accidentally ruining the lavenders, "I have something else to say." that didn't stop Ichigo from walking farther.

"You don't have to listen to me if you don't want to. Stop walking if you're curious to what I'm going to say, walk away if you don't want to hear me."

Ichigo slowly halted and Rukia walked closer to Ichigo.

"That was your past, although your past hurts, it was the past," Rukia was about a foot away from Ichigo, "Right now, this is your future. Although you can't alter the past, you can do something about the future," she was right next to him and she smiles ahead of her, not looking at him, "so this is your decision, let me hear it Ichigo," she turns to him and smirks, "are you gonna spend your 5 lifetimes hung up on a girl who loves your cousin?"

"You little rascal, you just talk too much." he chuckles at her and walks ahead of her and into his car, leaving her gaping.

"H-hey! I don't talk too much! You're the one who's spending all afternoon here talking to me about a girl you used to love!" Rukia cried and runs towards his car. Ichigo watches her run frantically to his car and smiles.

Mom, I met this weird girl who tells me weird things, but for some reason, her words put me at ease.


"H-holy! It's 5:30, I'm going to be late!" Rukia flips her phone open, "and my phone is dead. I guess it got too much water in it."

"I can take you home." a small cocky grin creeps onto his face.

"No way."

"Hey, hey," Ichigo glared at her, "I'm being nice to you and you're making it seem like I'm being an asshole."

"Maybe you are the asshole."

"I just don't understand you," Ichigo groaned, "well, if you're not gonna give me your address to go home, might as well take you to my house."

"What?!" she shouted, giving him a slightly surprised and disgusted face. Ichigo shrugged his shoulders at her and looked ahead, solely focusing on the road.

"You can't do that!" she crosses her arms and blew the bang in the middle of her face.

"Technically, I can, you're just denying it."

"You, stop the ca-"

"I'll give you 5 seconds to decide your fate Kuchiki Rukia. Argue with me to go to my house, or give me your address so I can take you home."

"That doesn't even-"

"Ha you sneaky, sneaky girl, playing hard to get? Alright, my house it is."

"Bastard," Rukia sneered at the grinning Ichigo, "fine." she groans as she proceeds to tell him her address.

"Good, I'll keep that in mind."

"You're going too slow!"

"Too slow? TOO SLOW? How fast do you want me to go lady?"

"Let me drive. I know a shortcut from here."

"I'm not letting you touch my car!"

"I know a freaking shortcut! It's not like I'm going to damage your car!"

"This is my favorite car," Ichigo shouts at her. Rukia raises her eyebrow and uncrosses her arm.

"Do you mean to say, you don't trust me?" the mischievous look on her face gives him a chill down his spine.

"N-no. I mean..."

"Ohh, the great and mighty Kurosaki Ichigo is afraid of a lady like me, driving the car."

"I have motion sickness, remember."

"I'll get us there so quick, you won't even remember throwing up." Rukia gives him a playful punch on the shoulder. Ichigo quickly stepped on his brakes at her touch.

"Did you just punch me?"

"Yeah I just punched you."

"You dare punch me?"

"What's been done is done I guess." Rukia mocks his shoulder shrugging and Ichigo scoffs.

"Fine then," he gets out of his car and to her side, "get out of this seat and drive us home."

"Don't you have motion sickness?"

"You should have considered that before persisting to drive my car."

"Alright then," Rukia goes around the car to sit in the front, "but since I'm driver, I say let's drive with the top down."

Ichigo could feel his stomach beg for mercy.


"It wasn't even THAT bad, Ichigo, stop exaggerating. At least I got us here at 5:45. Pretty quick right?" she asked to an Ichigo that was busy hurling up his coffee and whatever he ate that day.

"You dare say,"

"Well thanks Ichigo, I'm going to go home now."

"Wait, I need to walk you home first." Ichigo said, still weak from throwing up. He gaped at the apartment that stood before him. The windows were barely holding up, just barely hanging on pieces of tape. The stairs seems like they could break at anytime, even with the slightest movement, but Rukia lived at the bottom. In fact, the building itself seemed to be worn down, with its fading red color and flickering light.

"Is this really where you live? It looks kinda shady." he called out to her. She was ahead of him, but not too far ahead.

"Yup, this is where I live."

"I've never," he began, walking up to her, "seen a place like this."

"Well, maybe it's because you've never ventured out here, where it's not filthy rich." Rukia says, walking towards the front door to her apartment.

"How much do you pay a month?"

"Generally, it's $300 a month, but my friend and I split up the bill so it won't overwhelm us."

"$300?! That's just absurd! My shoes are $300!" Ichigo shouts lifting his feet up to her. Rukia gives him the "shh" sign.

"There are people here living here besides us okay. We need to keep quiet for them."

"Do you want me to just leave you here?" Ichigo asked as they both reached her apartment door.

"Yeah, you can go now. By the way, not trying to get stuff into your head, but your car is pretty cool."

"Well," Ichigo shrugs his shoulders at her, "what can you say? This is the best I'm talking about."

"Tch, cocky bastard." Rukia rolls her eyes as she opens her door and steps in, closing the door on Ichigo.

"Insensitive bitch." he scoffs as he walks back into his car.


"Why phone! Why must you die?!" Rukia frantically clicks random buttons on her phone, attempting to revive it.

"You're so loud, Rukia-chan!" Momo enters the front door as she witnesses Rukia crying to her dead phone. The apartment was a mess with clothing and shoes thrown everywhere.

"I accidentally killed it, do you know how expensive this phone was?"

"Guess I'll have to get you another one." Momo lets out an exasperated sigh as she throws her purse down and rushes to belly flop on the bed.

"Yeah, sorry about that Momo."

"Are you gonna go on a date with your boss tonight?" Momo asked peeking up slightly at Rukia who had mountains of clothes around her and her dead phone.

"No! Date? I'm going to a concert!" Rukia swipes her head away quickly to check her Cayenne alarm clock for the time she has to get ready. She had approximately 30 minutes because Renji promised to pick her up at 6:15.

"Riiiiiight. A 'concert'," Momo takes her hands and quotes concert, "you know a regular concert between you and your boss. Nothing big."

"Yep, just a regular boss and employee outing to a concert."

"Really, why are you so desperate to find a decent outfit then?"

"I want to look like a civilized human being, excuse you plus, I am going to see my idol."

"Are you sure you're not doing this to impress your boss, or are you doing this to impress Cayenne?" Momo props up on her elbows as she continues to tease Rukia.

"I'm not trying to impress anybody. You know, not every girl dresses to impress guys. I'm obviously doing this for me."

"Geez Rukia-chan, I'm teasing."

"Whatever. What should I wear Momo?" Rukia, frustrated, threw herself onto the bed, next to Momo.

Momo gets up and inspects the clothes lying all over the floor. She picks up a Cayenne tank top that Rukia had since forever, blue jeans, walks over to the closet and grabs a plaid cardigan, and gently walks to Rukia to places the clothes next to her.

"Did I ever tell you how much I love you Momo?" Rukia turns to her friend and Momo chuckles viciously.

"Ohhh my shallow minded Rukia-chan," Momo leaned down to with a playful and mischievous smile Rukia, "me picking out your clothes comes with a price."


KNOCK-KNOCK

"Is this necessary?" Rukia reaches her hands up trying to rub her eye, only getting her hand pulled back by Momo.

"You'll ruin your eyeliner and my hard work, besides your boss is already here." Momo pushes the made up Rukia to the door and open it to reveal Renji on the other side.

"Wow Kuchiki, you look... n-n-nice." Renji blushed at the sight of her. Momo had put makeup on Rukia, but not dramatic makeup just a little enhancement. She brought Rukia's eyes to full attention with winged eyeliner and mascara and she also added a little drama with blush.

"Err.. thanks manager." Rukia chuckles awkwardly rubs her arm and gave him a half smirk before getting pushed out by Momo and stood next to Renji.

"Don't do anything bad you two! Hey you," she pointed a finger at Renji, "if she gets hurt, you'll face her debt bills! She owes so much, it'll make you faint!" Momo finished as she slams the door in front of the two.

Renji and Rukia looked at each other and laughed at Momo's threat.

"Shall we go Kuchiki-san?" Renji asks as they both walk to his motorcycle. Renji hopped on and beckons for Rukia to sit in the back.

"Can't I drive?"

"Not tonight Kuchiki-san, this is me treating you for all your hard work."

"May I just take my motorcycle?" Renji rolls his eyes at her stubbornness.

"Just hold onto me, we'll be perfectly safe."


"I see you didn't come today Ichigo-chan."

"Sorry Retsu-sensei," Ichigo puts on a more casual dark blue v-neck shirt and light blue jeans, "I had a therapy session with someone else."

"Doubting my skills? That's cold Ichigo-chan."

"Well," Ichigo chuckles, "not really."

"Did I hear you hesitate?"

"In my book, you're still my favorite and number one doc, Retsu-sensei!"

"Whatever, why don't you assign that new person as your doctor instead?"

"Because, she's a commoner with only a high school diploma. There's no way that she can ever replace anyone dear to me." Ichigo takes his phone and key and goes out of the room.

"Ichigo-chan, don't judge a person by their social status." Unohana scolded him. Ichigo laughs as he exits his house and opens his garage.

"I'll remember that quote, although, I promise I won't live by it."

"Ugh, did you recently talk to your stepmother? She's despicable." Ichigo chuckles at Unohana's comment as he gets into his least favorite car and starts it.

"Here we are, gossiping about my family again. Why is she brought up in this conversation anyways?"

"I'd rather not say Ichigo-chan. Hey, are you going to Kaien's concert tonight?"

"Unfortunately." Ichigo drives out of his drive way.

"Don't be like that. Record it for me, when I was going to buy the tickets, they were sold out. How'd you get them?"

"When you're filthy rich like me, you can find loopholes."

"You're so full of yourself. I hope one day a nice lady would knock you head over heels and make you realize what a spoiled young man you are."

"Too bad Retsu-sensei, " Ichigo says in a teasing tone, "all the girls fall for me too easily. None of them are worth it. Besides, marriage is like a company merger. If I marry a rich successful young girl with a superior family background, she would help Getsuga Enterprise be even richer. When that happens, I'll be able to start a chain of Getsuga Enterprises."

"What a horrible way to live."

"As if you're one to talk. You're rich and successful, and who do you marry? The 'love' of your life."

"Kenpachi is in a nicer place now thank you for bringing him up Ichigo-chan."

"Sorry, but I did actually love a woman before."

"Here we are talking about Miyako-chan again. Ichigo, you know you can do better."

"Wow Retsu-sensei, jumping to conclusions already," Ichigo laughs at his doctor, "I was going to say, my mother was the first woman I fell in love with."

"Unexpected, but I should have expected that. Ichigo-chan is full of surprises isn't he? Now, what made you suddenly want to attend Kaien's concert?"

"No matter how much I hate him, he's still my cousin."

"Aah, there it is, forgiveness. See, hanging out with me brings bright things in the future." he heard Unohana laugh heartily to herself.

"You wish it was you old lady."

"Now, now Ichigo-chan, don't talk like that to a woman who can charge you at anytime."

"You're so evil," he parks at the V.I.P part of the stadium, "I'll call you tomorrow Retsu-sensei."

"Yes, please do. I'm so much more at ease now that I know you took your medicine."

"Goodnight Retsu-sensei."

"Record the concert for me!" she shouts with jolliness as Ichigo chuckles and hangs up. He looks at the entrance filled with fangirls and sighs deeply.

"Well," he says as he gets out of his car and shuts the door, "when you're rich, you find loopholes."


"Well," Renji sweat drops as they got in line and looks down at Rukia, "wanna wait in line while I'll get us drinks or something?"

"Are you trying to find ways to not wait in line?" Rukia peers up at him and glares.

"Hey, Kuchiki-san, you caught me red-handed again," Renji puts both of his hands up and Rukia laughs, "say, how long has it been?"

"Since when? Hisana's death? Nii-sama's disappearance?"

"No, since you and I met?"

"I don't know actually. Since a long time?"

"Really," Renji turns to Rukia and smiles, "I still remember it vividly."

"Wowie, you're old mister. I guess your memories can't even come clear now, can they?"

"Shut up. I remember you were, 13 that time, you haven't changed much, you know, still short," with that being said, Rukia playfully pinched his arm, "I had just turned 18 and I was working at Queen's Cup, as a waiter and barista. You barged into the store demanding Hisana. My initial thoughts were, how can a girl this small be so loud?"

"Well," she turned to Renji, "wanna know what I thought?"

"With a mind like yours, it's either offensive or mean, but what did you think?" he smiles as they both moved forward.

"How can a guy look so human, but yet so much like a monkey." she fakes a disappointed head shake. Renji laughs at her and they both moved forward again.

"You're so mean to me Kuchiki. You called me Senpai all up until you started working at Queen's Cup."

"Well, maybe I just thought you were too old to be my senpai anymore."

"I'm 28."

"See, you're old." Rukia half smirks at Renji. He laughs as they moved forward again.

"Hey look, it's our turn." said Rukia as she runs ahead of Renji and they finally got inside of the building.

Renji and Rukia took a seat 3 rows from the front, smack dab in the middle, but Rukia could hardly sit because she was so excited.

"The concert hasn't even started yet Kuchiki."

"How much did it cost?"

"Don't you worry about that Kuchiki, tonight, the night is all yours."

"It must've cost a fortune. I'm sorry, " she bowed down to Renji, "please don't do this again ok manager. I'm always up for hard work."

"Geez, you need a break workaholic." Renji sighed as more people enter. Rukia sat down as people settle down and room seemed full. The whole stadium had the lights dim as the seemingly last people entered and Rukia's heart beat rhythmically. There were fans screaming, but Rukia remained calm. She was really going to see him, Cayenne, the person she had admired for so long. What got her heart beating the fastest was when said man walked onto the stage.

"Hey everyone. It's Cayenne, nice to see all of your beautiful faces tonight." he said in English. The crowd started to scream and squeal in satisfaction, but Rukia didn't. She was still trying to process the information that she was actually here, at his concert.

"Are you happy?" Renji whispered to Rukia.

"Very. Thank you." she whispered back, not looking at Renji, but focusing her full attention on Cayenne. The music starts slowly crescendoing.

"I'd like to start out singing my bestselling song, Baby it's you." he bows to the crowd and they all scream.


Why did I even agree to this? Ichigo asked himself as he shakes his head, not standing up like everyone else in the crowd.

"Baby, it's you, even your pain becomes a memory someday,"

Gross, he can't even hit the note. I bet I can do better. Singing career, this is a joke.

"You're the only one, don't think, just feel,"

Whatever. I bet you tell that to every girl you sing to, slut. Ichigo rolls his eyes at Kaien who gets off the stage and walks down the aisle of fans. All the girls reached out their hands as he touched them.

"I'll make your whole body tremble, future is you."

Ha, see, slut.

Kaien kept singing, but Ichigo was no longer listening, but off into a world of his own. He got the front row V.I.P seat that cost $700, but someone already had the seat, so he tracked down the person and paid triple for what the person had bought the ticket for and got his seat. That's not what he was thinking of though. What his mind wandered to was the petite and hot headed female he spent his afternoon with. His mind kept replaying what she had said to him, over, and over again, as if it was on replay. By now, he has even memorized what she had said to him by heart.

"Now, I'd like to sing this last song. It's my favorite in the whole album because I wrote it for the lady I yearn for." he chuckles. The music starts and once again, the crowd goes wild.

"The wings of my heart, yearning for a spring where happiness flutters about,"

In the corner of his eye, Ichigo saw Miyako. She was sitting 6 seats away from where he is and was wiping her eyes with a handkerchief while smiling like an idiot.

"Becoming scattering flower petals, headed for you,"

I see, supporting her husband-to-be. Miyako is such a good wife-to-be. You know, Ichigo turns to Miyako and smile, I'm kinda glad you chose Kaien over me.

"Whenever you hear the wind, I will be by your side,"

You've always been a sappy bastard freakin Kaien, he turned away from Miyako to watch Kaien's performance.

"Protecting you as you live here and now is more important than an inconsolable sadness or loneliness,"

But I guess because of that, Miyako fell in love with you instead.

"That was your past, although your past hurts, it was the past. Right now, this is your future. Although you can't alter the past, you can do something about the future. So this is your decision, let me hear it Ichigo, are you gonna spend your 5 lifetimes hung up on a girl who loves your cousin?"

A smile cracks onto his face as he hears her voice echoing in the back of his mind.

Of course not. I'll find someone who is worthy of my 5 lifetimes.


"Hey, you look pretty sleepy, you okay?" Renji said as they neared Rukia and Momo's apartment.

"Y-yeah. I'm more than okay. I just saw my idol manager. I saw the man I had been admiring since before debut." Rukia sighs as her heart fills up with warmth. She gets off of the motor bike and bows down to Renji. This is real. She had just seen him up close. She had heard him sing live and it sounded even better than the tracks.

"I'm happy that you enjoyed it. Cayenne is a very good singer."

"Thank you very much." she bows down to Renji.

"W-wait," Renji stopped Rukia before she went inside, "I- I uhh got you something."

"Why? Today is nothing special." Rukia rubs her eyes, smearing her eyeliner, and let out a giant yawn. Renji chuckles quietly before letting out a defeated sigh.

"You're partially right, but I'll give it to you tomorrow."

"Wait, why?"

"See you tomorrow Kuchiki!" with that being said, Renji drove away from the half-awake Rukia entering the apartment.

Today, marked the 10th anniversary of Renji and Rukia's first meeting.


*AN: HEYYYYYYYYYYYYYY long time no see? UGHhh this is the hardest chapter I have written so far. Also, my least favorite chapter to write (so far). It's been so hard to get inspiration. ( ≧Д≦)

I took a part from episode 72 (old episode), but it was in Ishida's hospital, and I just kinda rearranged it? Idk but I thought that scene was so cute and I just switched their roles. I adore Ichigo and Rukia's love quarrels lol cx

Oh and I used Orihime's 5 lifetime speech as my inspiration (practically just took it, sorry Kubo) for Ichigo's love declaration to Miyako because it's unrequited love you know? I also tried using symbolism here, but idk I think it failed for the most part. Anybody catch the symbolism?

The songs I used for Kaien's concert were Bleach endings, Baby it's you and Sakurabito. By the way, I've never been to a concert so I had to visualize and pretend I was there.

Thanks for reading! Happy reading! Dunno when the next chap will come out sorry (シ_ _)シ