I don't own Bleach, but I really don't want to... Shouts go out to Beccababy my returning Beta reader. She is made of awesome. She told me somethings about the story that honestly I was like why did I write it like that but then I either fixed them or plan on explaining them later. So please bare with me if you have questions but feel free to post them on reviews.

-Kadington


To the outside world he looked asleep, but maybe a better explanation would be that he was in deep meditation. He sat cross legged as his head was drooping and resting against his chest. His hands where sitting in his lap and his fingers would twitch every now and then as his eyes rolled around in his head just under his eye lids. Besides the movements of his eye and the occasional twitch, his body was completely still and seemed relaxed. It was a complete ruse however, because just beyond the surface and into the depths of his inner world a battle was raging that could very well be one of life or death. At least it appeared to be that serious.

The sharp clang of swords rang in the air like a thunderbolt that scorched the earth. Repeated strikes left the world reeling in shockwaves of sheer power. There was no hesitation in either opponent's blade for this fight was far more serious than a simple spar. Each movement and each breath was scrutinized by the other combatant looking for that one mistake that would insure victory. As serious as this battle was, neither opponent wanted it any other way for it had been some time since sword and wielder had battled to sharpen each other.

To Ichigo this was more than a fierce battle with Zangetsu, this was his release from all the emotions and stress that had been slowly collecting in his soul. They mounted like flood water against a dike, if he let any more abuse come to his emotional dike, it just might break allowing all that flood water to hit him and drown him in insufferable sorrow. He never wanted to be as emotionally ruined as he had been after he lost both Rukia and his baby girl, but hanging around Rukia's incarnate had torn open old wounds that he thought had healed a long time ago. She was Rukia's incarnate as much as he wanted to convince himself otherwise. His refusal to accept this fact was one of the reasons so many wounds had been painfully torn open in the first place. It was only after he saw the beautifully white Sode No Shirayuki in her hand the day before did it become impossible to refute this fact.

Ichigo spun around with the fluid grace of a cat as his sword met the steel of his Zanpakuto's sword. The slice Zangetsu had assaulted him with surely could have split him from shoulder to thigh if he hadn't blocked it. The swords moaned as steel grinded against steel before Ichigo was able to put an arm's length of distance between him and his sword. The adrenaline that was coursing wildly through his body was a high better than any drug on earth or in soul society could ever hope to give him. He relished the intense feeling as he shifted stances in the blink of an eye, only to send an assault of powerful thrust in Zangetsu's direction. The assault had its intending effect as it pushed Zangetsu to take to the defensive.

Zangetsu defended skillfully before, with a flick of his wrist, hitting Ichigo's sword aside and countering with a diagonal slash. Ichigo was taken off guard by this, but his battle instincts saved him from losing an arm. Ichigo jumped back as the sting from the cut on his arm hit him. His clothing became stained in crimson, but Ichigo couldn't bring himself to care. The cut was nothing more than a light flesh wound compared to half the scrapes he had gotten into during his battle stained history. Ichigo registered in his mind that he had been hit, but other than that he was plotting his next set of moves. Zangetsu knew everything that Ichigo knew in the art of swordsmanship, so the fact that Zangetsu had actually scored a hit on him meant Ichigo still wasn't up to full fighting from.

"You're thinking too much Ichigo," The spirit called to its master.

"Am I not allowed to think?" Ichigo was quick to retort before he and Zangetsu's locked swords again.

Zangetsu fainted right before he ducked low and came up as his sword tasted blood a second time in the past few minutes. "The purpose of this fight is to make you not think, only react." Zangetsu calmly replied.

Ichigo didn't have anything to respond to that with so he only continued the fight arching his sword in a reverse star shaped pattern. Across, down left, up, down right, up again… Each strike held Ichigo's full weight as he stepped forward slightly through each swing. Zangetsu skillfully either dodged or blocked, but was forced back a full step. Thus began the second round of the battle, with each combatant putting everything they had forward to challenge the other. As the sound of their fight rang in the silence of Ichigo's inner world, the only spectator appeared to be Zangetsu's favorite street dog that lurked in one of the back alley ways of the inner dimension.

Ichigo's inner dimension had changed through the years and was no longer the sideway skyscraper that he had when he was young. Now Ichigo and Zangetsu dueled at the base of the very same skyscraper that once served as a platform. Ichigo inner world had basically righted itself and now instead of sides of skyscrapers, Ichigo now had paved roads, alley ways and even other buildings. The reason for the 90 degree flip was the fact Ichigo had long ago again tamed his nearly endless spiritual pressure and finally mastered control over every aspect of his powers. This lack of chaos allowed Ichigo's inner world to stabilize and thus turn the proper direction. The city itself was as interesting as any typical city block but after two blocks the world looped in on itself making it possible to run in one direction and appear from the other a short time later. Not that anyone who inhabited the world cared. There were trees and plants that lined the streets, but the one thing Zangetsu seemed to enjoy were the pigeons and various other bird as well as a pack of dogs that ruled the streets.

Above both spirits, the sky was cast into an angry kind of grey green that would normally signal that a terrible storm was on the way. Not that either combatant really paid much attention to the weather, it was more a symbolic reflection of the emotional state of Ichigo's soul then an actual weather pattern. No doubt the storm that threatened the skies of this city would come one day soon, but for now, as the two clashed swords a bit of a release was found.

Little did either combatant figure out right away that someone else had joined them in the city. It wasn't until Ichigo forced Zangetsu back a good 10 feet before the stoic sword spirit noticed who was watching them. Ichigo who was still focused on the fight lurched forward only to stop half way as he noticed Zangetsu drop his guard and lower his weapon. Ichigo forced his blade to halt halfway through his strike, stopping it just an inch before it came down on his spirit. Raising a brow, Ichigo let his arm limply fall to his side.

"What happened Old Man, pull a muscle?" Ichigo chastised as he wondered what had caused his sword spirit to suddenly stop fighting.

Even through his thick glasses, Ichigo knew when Zangetsu was looking at him and Ichigo was not getting that feeling. "No," Zangetsu replied before he dismissed the sword in his hand causing it to disappear into thin air. "Welcome, my beautiful maiden of snow." A warm smile work its way to Zangetsu's lips.

Ichigo knew who was with them just by Zangetsu's comment, for there was no one else that Zangetsu called by that name, nor was there any one else that Zangetsu used that tone or even smiled for other then Sode No Shirayuki. If Zanpakutos were really expressions of someone's soul then it only made sense that if Ichigo loved Rukia with all his soul, then Zangetsu would love Sode No Shirayuki with all of his. The only difference was; Sode No Shirayuki remembered Zangetsu… Rukia didn't remember him.

Turning around, Ichigo wasn't surprised at all to see Sode No Shirayuki standing there against the back drop of one of the small cafe's that lined the city streets. To others, her appearance might seem out of place within the city, but to Ichigo it seemed perfectly natural. This wasn't the first time Sode No Shirayuki had come to his soul and it probably wouldn't be the last time either, or at least he hoped not, for Zangetsu's sake. Normally when two spirits met, they can only meet outside of their inner worlds, but something about Rukia transferring her powers to him had opened this up for the two spirits. Ever since that fateful night too many years ago a bridge between the two souls had formed and it was easy for either spirit to go into the other's inner world.

"Hello, Shirayuki-san." Ichigo said with a slight bow to show his respect to the spirit.

In soul society, for a shinigami to see the manifestation of another zanpakuto was a very intimate thing and rarely did even very close shinigami see the other's zanpakuto manifestation. Even touching someone else's zanpakuto was a taboo, but all those things didn't apply to Ichigo or Rukia. Though one only had to be in the same room for spirits to be able to communicate with each other. Conversations between spirits weren't as common as one might think, but it does happen. Zangetsu knew the most of the sword spirits of the shinigami Ichigo regularly spar or was around. He even once said he was good friends with Zabimaru and Senbonzakura. Though Zangetsu's relationship with Sode No Shirayuki was a million times different then his relationship with other spirits; but so was Ichigo's relationship with the snowy maiden.

"I'm sorry to interrupt you two." Sode No Shirayuki spoke in a calm voice.

"You have always been welcome in this place Sode No Shirayuki, you have disrupted nothing." Zangetsu was quick to respond as he waved his hand to dismiss any other notions she could have about coming there.

Ichigo flicked his own weapon away in a similar matter Zangetsu; it quickly dissolved into thin air. "Is there something we could help you with Shirayuki-san? Or are you just here to see Zangetsu?"

Sode no Shirayuki looked towards Ichigo with a calm gaze. "I can selfishly admit that I did come to see Zangetsu, but I also wanted to talk to you as well. Do you mind if we take this to the park?"

The park was just another part of the cityscape. If Ichigo considered the skyscraper as the starting point for his inner world then the park was the end before it looped around in a never ending cycle. The park was both spirits' favorite place in his world. They were normally found there if Ichigo went looking for them. Zangetsu had told him once that he could find peace in the park that couldn't be found anywhere else in the inner world.

"Sure," Ichigo gave a causal shrug of his shoulders before he turned and headed towards the park.

Sode No Shirayuki offered the former substitute shinigami a thankful smile before she stepped up to Zangetsu and begun to follow after the orange haired man. The walk wasn't a far one. The area wasn't much bigger than a common children's park and had a set of playground equipment at one end a small open field with trees at the other end. Knowing the spirits, Ichigo headed for the largest tree in the small field.

As soon as he reached this location, Ichigo eased himself down into the grass and waited for the two spirits to get settled respectfully. Zangetsu helped Sode No Shirayuki down to sit at the base of the large tree before taking a spot next to her. As soon as he was comfortable he quickly reached over and took Sode No Shirayuki's hand into his own. The display of affection wasn't anything Ichigo wasn't use to and honestly it never really bothered him when he watched the two of them. After all Zangetsu was a part of him just as Rukia was a part of Sode No Shirayuki so it could be said that their love was a reflection of his love for Rukia and vice versa.

After giving Zangetsu a small smile, Sode No Shirayuki's eyes turned towards Ichigo. "May I inquire as to what you are going to do once Soul Society catches up with us?"

Ichigo leaned back and onto the palms of his hands. "Same thing Rukia did. Although, if Soul Society thinks they can harm this new Rukia, they'll remember why I'm the hero of the Winter War. I refuse to let anything happen to either of you."

Sode No Shirayuki nodded as if expecting this answer. "I suppose that's the only thing you two can do in this situation." There was a pause as Sode No Shirayuki seemed to consider something. "You know she dreams about who she once was."

Ichigo face registered that he was surprised. "I see…" Was all the fifth division captain could say before his brain processed a proper retort. "How is it possible that she is back? I thought it didn't work that way."

Sode No Shirayuki didn't say anything for a moment as she rested her head against Zangetsu's shoulder. "Normally it doesn't." Her words were low and if it wasn't for the general silence of his inner world Ichigo might have missed what she had said.

Zangetsu put his arm around Sode No Shirayuki and held her close to him before he looked in the direction of his wielder. "You have never exactly been normal, Ichigo, and because of her interaction with you she became abnormal as well."

Ichigo brow furrowed as his face contorted into its trademark scowl. "Can we cut the bull crap Zangetsu? For once just give me a straight answer."

"Ichigo-san," Sode No Shirayuki's voice had a disarming ring to it. "Soul bonding is the reason why she is back."

"Soul bonding?" Ichigo reply rang with a mountain of confusion.

Zangetsu nodded. "It is exactly how it sounds, the bonding of two souls. It's the reason why Sode No Shirayuki can come here in the first place, for it is the bridge that binds your souls together. Both of you can feel the bond between your souls and it will always bring you together."

Ichigo let Zangetsu's words hang in the air unsure of what to fully make of them. It made sense that he and Rukia had a bond with him that was different than anyone else, but was it really so strong that even death couldn't break the connection between them? He been privileged to learn about a lot of weird stuff in his 46 years of life but the more he thought about it the more this seemed to make sense...

"You will understand Ichigo, but for now…I employ you to be there for Rukia." Sode No Shirayuki's voice seemed to hint that she understood everything, but there was something she intended to keep from Ichigo.

"I will but…" Ichigo started before suddenly he was forced out of his inner world by the sound of pounding.


Rukia sat behind a large desk, far bigger then her meager stature was and it seemed to make her appear smaller then she really was. This fact didn't bother her, if Toushiro could get use to it, then so could she. The scent of spring hovered in the air and through the open window to her left. The sun shown warm in her office heating it up and warming whatever the rays of light touched. It was one of those perfect spring days that just called to a person to come outside. Putting her pen down, she steps from her desk to stand in the warm beams of light. Her skin was instantly warmed were the sun kissed it and took away some of the aching feeling that she had been feeling lately. She blamed overworking for that tired feeling she had been having for the past few months, but the longer it persisted she had to wonder if it was something else.

"Captain?"

A voice from the door caused Rukia to snap out of the sun induced revelry she was having. Turning to the door of her office, the short captain let a gentle smile appear on her lips at the sight of her lieutenant Kiyone. Rukia had only been promoted to the rank of captain a few years before to take Ukitake's place as captain of the thirteenth division after the older man's health started to deteriorate even more rapidly. Ukitake just wasn't the same after the Winter War… Rukia was happy to take his place and prove herself to her brother and her friends. She had started to master her bankai at the very end of the winter war and now was able to use it with the mastery required of a captain in the Gotei 13.

"Yes Kiyone?" Rukia asked her lieutenant.

Kiyone seemed to stand more at attention once she was addressed by her captain. "Ahh, I come to report that…"

Kiyone wasn't allowed to continue as someone else stepped into Rukia's office and silenced Kiyone. "Don't worry Lieutenant, I need no introduction here" Came the cocky voice of the Captain of the fifth division and Rukia's husband.

"Ichigo…" There was warmth in the other captain's tone mixed slightly with annoyance. Rukia's eyes didn't linger long upon the orange haired captain, turning instead to her vice-captain. "Kiyone, why don't you get out of the office and take the rest of the day off."

Kiyone's smile rose upon her lips as she stood at attention. "Hai, Captain!" With that said the vice captain of the thirteenth division disappeared from Rukia's sight.

Violet lingered upon chocolate for a minute as the two captains' eyes met for a moment or two. Rukia couldn't read what Ichigo wanted exactly, but it was no stretch of the imagination to think it no doubt involved her if he was here. Turning around, Rukia knew she had no time to play one of Ichigo's games. She had paperwork to get done so that she could enjoy this wonderful weather. Returning to her desk, she moved to pick up her pen. Ichigo invited himself further into her office and sat down in one of the chairs that sat on the other end of her desk.

"Something I can help you with Captain Kurosaki?" Rukia decided to ask as she started the paperwork on her desk.

Ichigo grinned at her in return. "Why yes you can Captain Kuchiki. You mind if I talk to my wife for a minute?"

Rukia gave her fellow captain a slight glance before returning to her paperwork. "Your wife has a lot of work to do."

Ichigo glanced towards the office door. "Ya know the way you sent your vice captain away like that, seems to point that you wanted to be alone with me." Ichigo's tone was low as his lips curled in a seductive smirk.

Rukia just rolled her eyes at him, as much as she'd love to entertain him, she had a duty to her squad to work just as hard as they did. Kiyone had already done more than enough in the last few days while Rukia hadn't been feeling well, picking up the slack the way she use to for Ukitake. Rukia felt bad putting her lieutenant in that position because she wasn't supposed to be sick like Ukitake, but here she was doing it none the less. That was why she had given Kiyone some time off because she more than earned it, and someone should enjoy this beautiful day if she couldn't. From the other end of her desk Ichigo got comfortable in his chair, his smirk fading.

"How are you feeling today?" His tone was far more serious then Rukia really wanted.

"Fine." Rukia replied hiding how tired even now she was feeling. "The same as what I told you this morning before I left the house."

Ichigo sighed. "Rukia, don't make me out to be the bad guy here. I have every right to be concerned about you. What did Captain Unohana say this morning?" His concern for her evident in every word he spoke.

Rukia set down her pen again and folded her arms upon her large wooden desk to look at Ichigo. She knew his concern for her was justified, it was more the fact that she didn't want it to affect him the way she knew it was. He was more worried about her now then he had ever been, except for the time when she was going to be executed. It wasn't helping that she didn't appear to be getting any better. Choosing her words carefully as not to cause him any more unnecessary worry, Rukia gave her husband of five years a serious look.

"She didn't know what it was. Unohana ran some test but wouldn't be getting the results until later tonight." Rukia honestly told her husband.

Clearly these were not the words Ichigo was hoping to hear. He went silent as he leaned back in the chair. His eyes betrayed that of a man deep in thought before he slowly got up from the chair. Rukia watched him, forgetting about her abundance of paperwork for the moment. Ichigo begun to pace the length of the room, once then twice. Finally after three or four rotations of the pace, he turned towards his wife a slightly haunted look in his eyes. He had been the one that had insisted that Rukia went to talk to Unohana this morning as if he had suddenly developed some sort of fear that something was seriously wrong with her.

"Okay…" Ichigo voice was a bit shaky, a million miles from the cocky and slightly loud one he normally had.

"Ichigo… Look I'm fine. Don't make a mountain out of a mole hill." Rukia tried to reassure her husband.

Ichigo's eyes flashed to lock with her own. "Byakuya hasn't talked to you, has he?"

Rukia gave her fellow captain a strange look, but never broke eye contract. "No… Why?"

Ichigo suddenly tore his gaze from her and resumed to pace along the length of Rukia's office. The wife not knowing what to make of her husband's strange behavior watched him. The thirteenth division captain really didn't know what was pulsing though Ichigo's mind, but whatever it was it left him fairly distraught. Slowly getting up from her desk, Rukia made a decision to try and comfort her husband. She was about to step in front of him but he stopped a second before her. The thundering sound of footsteps rapidly approaching Rukia's office stopped both captains in their tracks. Such hurried messengers normally carried urgent news and no doubt both captains in the room would need to start acting like captains.

The door to Rukia office slid open without the normal and respectful entering knock. Standing there in the door way panting was none other than Hanataro. He looked bedraggled, no doubt a bit tired from the dozen or so flash steps needed to cross from fifthdivision to thirteenth division. His fifth division lieutenant's badge that normally sat high on his shoulder now was hanging from his elbow as he looked between the two captains. The nervousness about his situation could be felt across the room to the position where Rukia stood. Gulping loudly, his eyes flickered back and forth from the two captains before he suddenly collected himself and stood at attention.

"Captains, I have been sent to tell you both to go see Captain Unohana in 4th division urgently." Hanataro reported.

When told to go somewhere urgently, both Rukia and Ichigo knew better then to delay. Glancing at each other as if to ask the other what was going on, both captains turned and ran out of the office. Ichigo called a thank you back to his vice captain over his shoulder just before they disappeared down the hall and out the doors. As soon as their feet touched the outside ground, both shinigami disappeared, reappearing on top of one of the many roofs around soul society before disappearing again with another shunpo. A trip that normally took a half an hour walking was reduced to 5 minutes as both Ichigo and Rukia appeared at the hospital doors that lead to Unohana's normal office.

Ichigo was the first one in, following a few steps behind him was Rukia, both of their captain's robes fluttering in their wake because of their heightened paces. The fourth division members stopped whatever they were doing to look at the two Captains that appeared with in their hospital, no doubt surprised to see them there more than anything else. It was rare for a captain to be in the fourth division after the Winter War ended, and to see two of them there was an even stranger oddity. Ichigo moved through the halls of the hospital knowing exactly where he was going. He knew the layout of the hospital well, as he had been there several different times for several different reasons over the years. Rukia continued to follow a step or two behind him, ignoring the stares of the fourth division staff.

Finally Ichigo reached his destination, not bothering with the customary knock before he just walked inside. Rukia followed behind him, stepping up to his side as they appeared in the office. Unohana looked up at them, her hand poised as if she was frozen in mid calligraphy stroke. Her surprise expression slowly melted into an emotionless one as the healer's lips pressed into a thin line. Slowly she lowered her pen and stood from behind her desk and motioned for the captain's to take a seat on the patient couch on the far side of the room. Ichigo and Rukia both obliged the healer's silent request sitting down upon the overstuffed couch. Unohana plucked a file off her desk and moved across the room to shut the door before taking the chair that sat opposite of the couch. Both husband and wife watched her anxiously wondering what this could all be about.

Unohana took a deep breath and looked at the two with a sad gaze before looking at Rukia. "I honestly didn't expect either of you for at least a half an hour, but it would seem you were told to hurry…" Unohana started before her face became very sullen. "I didn't ask either of you here as captains, I asked you here as husband and wife…"

Suddenly a feeling of dread washed over Rukia. Her heart instantly knew she was about to get bad news, and not just any bad news. Bad news about her health… For such a long time Rukia had been trying to convince herself that what was happening to her was nothing out of the ordinary. She was just getting tired and wore out easily. The aches were just a symptom of her tiredness, something to overlook and not serious. But now it would seem that Ichigo's worry was justified. Tensing slightly, Rukia tried to brace for the emotional wave that would come with the news Unohana was about to give her. Her resolve was strengthened as she felt Ichigo take her hand into his.

Unohana opened the chart. "Rukia, when you came in this morning I had a suspicion of what was ailing you almost immediately. I didn't want to share my suspicion until I knew exactly what was wrong with you. If you recall I took some of you blood and other fluids this morning and from that I was able to come up with two diagnoses for your condition… One surprised me, the other I confirmed my suspicion." Unohana sighed as if trying to collect herself. "I could say I have good news for you but in light of these two complicating factors you're going to have to make a very hard decision."

Again Unohana paused as if she was waiting for some sort of confirmation that she should continue. Rukia didn't like anything that she was saying, but as Ichigo squeezed her hand, the captain of the thirteenth squad nodded to her fellow captain. She'd had no where to hide, whatever Unohana knew was her fate now. Unohana remained silent for a moment longer as if trying to find the proper way to explain everything to the couple before her gaze turned very serious and doctor like.

"Rukia, you have Killeacks disease…" Unohana simply said.

Rukia let out the breath she had been holding as she took in what Unohana had said. There was no need for anyone to explain what Killeacks' disease was because she already knew. It was the same disease that had ended her sister's life and even if she had never known her sister the stories of how she died hadn't been denied to her. Killeacks' was the soul version of the living world's lupus disease. It was an autoimmune virus in which a soul's Reiryoku starts to attack a soul's body like an enemy. It had a very slow progression until the damage inflicted starts affecting the body's ability to function. It was a very fatal disease. She had all the early tell tale markers for the disease now that Rukia thought about it. What a fool she was for not realizing the whole thing sooner and by the look in Ichigo's eyes this was what he had been so worried about.

"We have caught it early, far earlier then when we caught it in your sister. We can do much to suppress it and give you a semblance of a normal life for now." Unohana started.

The doctor's words were cut off by Ichigo. "Whatever it is we'll do it!" His words were strong for it seemed the very thought of losing her terrified him.

Unohana looked at Ichigo with a sorrowful look. "It's not that easy I'm afraid, there is something you must take into consideration…. Rukia you are with child…"

Rukia felt her heart stop and an icy cold feeling far different from the one she got wielding Sode No Shirayuki fill her blood stream. With child? It was rare in soul society for any woman to become pregnant. It was always possible, but it happened so rarely it was considered a miracle. There were couples who would spend hundreds of years trying and have nothing to show for it. It was an old wives' tale that the reason for the low birthrate was because souls were meant to be born in the land of the living so the soul king made the task difficult for those who attempted to do it in Soul Society. Rukia had never imagined herself to ever become a mother, still it would appear she had been blessed or maybe it was cursed. Feeling her throat go dry she looked at Unohana desperately, her hand upon her stomach.

"What are my options…?" The words came out horse.

Unohana's face remained sorrowful. "You could abort the child and start the treatment for Killeacks. You have I'd say a 75 percent chance of responding well to the medication and living another 200 years. Or you could keep the child and try to carry it to a survivable age, but the risks to your body are great and your chance of survival and the child's survival aren't very high. If you get treatment for Killeacks you'll never be able to have children again…"

In an instant Rukia was on her feet, the pain was too much. Without a word she left, unable to weather the emotional storm that shook her body. She had to go. She had to clear her mind. She had to just think…


In an instant Rukia shot up in bed, her lungs letting forth several sobs as tears stained her face. That dream had felt so real, the pain she felt now was so real. She felt like her heart itself was being torn into pieces right in front of her as she had to make the most difficult choice in her life. The life of her children or her own… No one should have to feel the pain that coursed through her body now. It was far worse than anything she had ever felt in her life. Clutching her chest, the sobs continued to leave her mouth unbridle by her mind trying to scream at her that the dream was just that a dream. No this dream had been too real to be just a dream and her very soul was shaken by it.

Kicking off her blankets, her skin hit the cool night air of her bedroom causing goose bumps to rise on her flesh. Gulping in air to overcome the sobs that echoed from her chest she tried to calm herself. The small teen's whole body shook with both cold sweats and her own almost silent sobs. She found herself unable to overcome the pure pain that echoed out from her very soul. She needed comfort. No her body demanded to be comforted. Rukia's mind ran a million miles an hour trying to figure out where she could go to get this comfort her body was so desperate to seek. Suddenly the answer became clear as if she knew it all along.

Rationale was lost on the emotionally distraught teen as her feet touched the floor of her bedroom. As fast as she could move, she crossed the room exiting through her door and down the stairs. Threw the kitchen and out the back door, Rukia feet hit the dew cover grass of her backyard. She barely recognized the feeling of the wet grass underfoot before she stepped up to the RV parked in the back of the house. None of the lights in it where on but that didn't deter Rukia as her fist pounded on the door with a primal desperation one might have if being hunted and needing safety.

Rukia didn't know how long she stood there pounding but in her heart it felt like an eternity, but as suddenly as she had appeared the door opened. Ichigo sat there in the threshold a confused look playing across his face, wearing nothing but a pair of pajama pants that had been Rukia's brother's at one point. Rukia didn't care about any of this though as she threw her arms around the orange haired man and just started to sob into his bare chest. She didn't feel Ichigo tense under her touch or even ask her what was wrong. The only thing that mattered to her was that she had him at that moment and strangely that was comforting to the emotional hurricane that raged in her small body.