Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach or the song/lyrics used in this story.

Thank you all so so so much for all my wonderful reviews! You have no idea how much I appreciate that. Give yourselves a round of applause for putting us over the 50-review mark. Thank you for all the support! It means a lot to me.

I'll apologize in advance for any mistakes. I read over it multiple times, but I can't help feeling that I overlooked something. If you do find anything, please don't hesitate to point it out to me in a review. It would help me out a lot. Thanks!

This takes place after Ep. 115 where Rukia comes back after she gets hurt and Byakuya saves her.


I will never let you fall
I'll stand up with you forever
I'll be there for you through it all
Even if saving you sends me to heaven
Cuz you're my, you're my, my true love, my whole heart
Please don't throw that away
Cuz I'm here for you
Please don't walk away,
Please tell me you'll stay, stay

--Guardian Angel by The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus


Nana

To Protect


Rukia sat by the windowsill in Ichigo's room watching the sun set. Sunsets always seemed to leave her at peace. She rested her head on her arms and watched the sky turn a wide array of colors. First the sky was yellow, then it faded into orange. Then pink came in and it mixed with the orange until the sky was orange with hints of pink in it. Finally, yellow came back and the sky was now a perfect sunset. Rukia sighed, as the sky now became dark and filled with brightly-lit stars. She got up and walked to the middle of the room before Ichigo came in.

"What the hell are you doing in my room!" Ichigo yelled and he crossed his arms over his chest.

"Your room has the best view of the sunset," Rukia explained and matched his stance. They stood in silence for a moment. "Forget it, I don't want to argue with you today, I'm tired."

The truth was that her injuries still hurt, but when they asked her to come help Ichigo, Rukia pretended as though everything was all right. She really wanted to see Ichigo and well…the petite Death God had been ignoring her feeling for him. She would never admit that she loved him deeply. The pain in her side got worse so she walked over to the door and opened it.

"W-wait Rukia," Ichigo said and Rukia closed the door. She turned towards Ichigo with confusion written all over her face.

"What now?" She asked and Ichigo ran his fingers through his bright orange hair that seemed to glow even in the dark. He turned his head away and sat on his bed while staring at the floor. The only light source now was from the open window, it shone across the bed and onto some of Ichigo's face. He looked lost in thought.

"Ichigo?" Rukia questioned hesitantly and Ichigo pointed his finger to the floor. He lifted his head and Rukia looked at him, confused as ever. What is he doing? Rukia wondered.

"Stand there," he ordered and Rukia slowly walked over to the spot where Ichigo's finger was. "I need to talk to you," he said and she uncrossed her arms and began to panic. Talk? What if he told her to go back to Soul Society? What if he told her that he didn't need her? What if he said that he didn't need help? Her thoughts began to become more and more fanatic as the silence stretched on.

Ichigo on the other hand was trying to put his thoughts into words. He wanted to say what he had to without it being weird between them. He went through one sentence after another, but all just seemed wrong. Finally, he decided to just come out with it.

"What kind of guy do you really think I am?" He blurted out and Rukia's thoughts skidded to a stop. That was certainty the last thing she expected him to say.

"Didn't a already tell you?" She asked slightly annoyed. Rukia really despised repeating herself.

"Vaguely, I…I…need more detail," Ichigo tried to explain.

What is wrong with him? Rukia wondered to herself. He was stuttering and stopping mid sentence to re-organize his thoughts. Rukia walked up closer to him and placed her hand on Ichigo's forehead. Ichigo looked up from the floor and into Rukia's worried eyes.

"You don't seem sick…" she muttered to herself.

"What! I'm not sick! I'm just tryin' to ask you some things!" Ichigo yelled and swatted her hand away.

"Well, sorry for worrying about you! You're acting so strange! What's wrong?" She asked and Ichigo muttered something under his breath.

"Just answer the damn question," he said quietly and Rukia sat on the bed next to him. She hesitated before she placed her head on his shoulder. She looped her arms through his and began to speak quietly and slowly, choosing her words with utmost care. She ignored the blush on both of their faces.

"I think you're the type of man that never gives up. You're determined and you want to protect everyone. You don't let anything or anyone stop you from reaching your goals. You go beyond what anyone expects you to do and your strong, very strong. You're well...different. Not like anyone I have met before. You are...well...you are you." Rukia finished and unhooked her arm from Ichigo's and removed her head form his shoulder. She got up off of the bed and began to walk away.

"Wait, I'm not done yet," Ichigo said and Rukia stopped and turned around. A new wave of pain consumed her body and it took everything she had not to double over.

"What? Did I not give good answer this time?" Rukia asked and Ichigo shook his head. The pain in her stomach grew and she longed for this talk to be over. She wanted-no, she needed- rest.

"No, just wait a minute," he said and began to process everything Rukia had said to him. He doesn't give up, He doesn't let anyone get in his way, and he's strong. Did Rukia really mean all that? Or was she just saying all those things?

"Did you mean that Rukia?" He asked and Rukia became angry.

"Of course you idiot! I wouldn't have said it if I didn't mean it!" He yelled and Ichigo walked over to her.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to offend you," he said and if what she said was true, then he had to let out what he wanted to say.

"Ichigo…are you okay?" Rukia asked and Ichigo shook his head.

"Just listen midget," he said and Rukia didn't bother to get angry with him for calling her short. The pain coursing through her body was getting worse and worse. It was getting hard for her to stand up straight. They stood in silence for a while.

"Ichigo, whatever you have to say can you say it already?" She asked and began to place her hands around her stomach. Ichigo noticed her pained expression and put one hand on her shoulder.

"Rukia! Rukia!" He began to shake her, and she looked at him. "Are you alright?"

"Ju-just tell me what you need to say," she rasped and Ichigo picked her up in his arms and placed her on his bed. Rukia didn't even bother to protest. He sat next to her, stroking her hair softly. Ichigo began to panic. What happened to her?

"Rukia…what's wrong? Do you want me to get you anything?"

"Nothing is wrong with me and no, I don't...just…tell me," she said and Ichigo shook his head.

"I'm not going to tell you until you tell me what's wrong." He insisted.

"You idiot, did you forget that I was injured?" She questioned and Ichigo's eyes got wide and he began to feel guilty.

"You said that you were okay," he said and Rukia grinned.

"I lied."

"YOU IDIOT! WHY THE HELL WOULD YOU LIE ABOUT SOMETHING LIKE THAT?" Ichigo yelled and Rukia cringed at the loudness of his voice.

"Because, I wanted to help you…I wanted to see you, I uh…missed you," she said and she began to blush along with Ichigo.

"That's not a good enough reason." He said and Rukia noticed how sad he looked. His eyes shone with concern and care. She felt bad for making him feel this way. "I'm getting Inoue to heal you tomorrow," he said and his tone rang with finality.

"You're not sending me back?" she asked confused and Ichigo shook his head.

"As much as you need to go back, I'm gonna be selfish and keep you here. As much I hate to admit it, I need you." He said and scratched the back of his head. "But, that doesn't mean that you need to throw yourself in every fight, understand? If I tell you to stay outta it, I mean it! Don't try and test me midget," he said and Rukia smiled at how much he cared.

"Okay, agreed. Now what did you want to tell me?" She asked with a slight smile in her voice. He had told her that her needed her, it felt good to be needed. Besides, she thought, the poor carrot top is lost without me.

"I will become stronger Rukia and next time I will protect you," Ichigo began and Rukia's eyes widened. It was the same thing he told Orihime. Why was he apologizing? None of this was his fault. I'm not worth apologizing to Ichigo, Rukia thought.

"I'm sorry Rukia, that I wasn't able to make it in time. I'm sorry that I couldn't protect you. I'm sorry I wasn't stronger. I'm sor-"

"Stop!" Rukia demanded and Ichigo looked at her confused. "Why are you sorry? It's not your fault. You know what other type of man you are? You're the type that blames everything on yourself. Stop it, not everything is your fault. I'm not mad that you weren't there. I'm mad at myself because I couldn't protect myself. I wasn't strong enough, not you. So please Ichigo, stop blaming things on yourself."

"You scared me, I thought I had lost you...again…But, I promise Rukia, I won't let that happen to you ever again. I'll always be there to protect you to save you from anything…always…" Ichigo said and Rukia's eyes began to fill with tears.

"Ichigo…" she said and the tears started to spill out. Ichigo took one finger and began to wipe her tears away. "Thank you," Rukia said and Ichigo smiled down at her. He placed a small kiss on her lips and Rukia kissed back.

After a moment, they pulled away Ichigo rested his forehead on Rukia's. They both struggledto regain their breath. They stared at each other for a while before Ichigo gently put his hand on Rukia's cheek.

"Thank you Rukia." He breathed. Rukia let out a small laugh.

"No need to thank me, Ichigo."

They had changed each other's lives.

They would protect each other from anything.


This one-shot was written a loooooong time ago, but I never got around to post it. I wrote it because I needed to vent my anger. Writing (in my opinion) is the best way to vent, so that's how this one-shot came to be.

When I watched this episode, I got kind of mad. I feel like Ichigo said sorry to Rukia without really saying anything. And she forgave him without saying anything.Even though it would have been so unlike Ichigo, I really wish he would've said sorry to Rukia also because she got hurt too. Maybe not by the same person that hurt Orihime, but she still was injured.

I kept waiting for him to say sorry or something, but nothing came. So I decided that I would make him apologize to her. Plus, I had to shake off the Ichigo/Orihime images that crept up in my mind.

I must say though, I don't think this is my best one-shot, especially the beginning, but it works I guess.

Please review! I hope you liked it!

Thanks again for reading!