Title: The Ones Who Cried Love

Summary: A rich playboy. A wealthy artist. Two different people who have everything and can have everything. One thing that they don't have: Love.

Genre: T

Rating: General/ Romance

Disclaimer: I don't own BLEACH, Ichigo, Rukia and other characters that are mentioned here. Although I own the plot.

XxX

Author's Bulletin:

First of all, thanks to None. Thank you for understanding. I hope you're not offended.

Second, is for a reviewer (forgot her name), thanks for telling me that I love to mention the word hyperventilating. Yes, stupid as it maybe, I love to hyperventilate. Even without any reason.

Third, is for another reviewer (forgot the name once again) who is so demanding for lemony scenes. Tell you the truth I love lemon but I have a little interest in writing one. It may turn out good or maybe suck and my readers will never read my stories.

And to Ryana-chan, CHU-BURA is sung by Kelun. It's the opening song for the new filler of BLEACH. I think it's out now. I don't know. It's good! Ichigo, Rukia and their buddies are at the beach and they're having a great time. And…

RUKIA IS WEARING A BATHING SUIT!!

I think it's a two piece…. Hmm…

Well, that's it! If you wish to talk to me and if you have Yahoo! Messenger (not mine) here's my email address: . Just don't forget to mention your name or tell me where you came from ok? Also add me in friendster! I'm online everyday!

Oh yes! This chapter is a special one. It came on me last night before I went to sleep. I hope you like it!
This is dedicated to:

My friends: Kaye (best buddie) and to my official girl group, Hey Say Jump!
My avid readers: You!
My new buddie: Henridho (be lucky I mentioned you in here, you bastard!)
My new Visual Kei crush: KANON of An Café


XxxX



Chapter Ten

The One who Protects

Sunday morning…

Rukia groaned and turned her body to the other side of her bed, her eyes still closed. As she moved her body, her head lands bumpy yet soft pillow. It was warm and inviting. So she put her arms around the 'pillow' and held it tighter. It was so comforting and so warm.

Ichigo, on the other hand, finally woke up. He rubbed his eyes to clear his vision and was completely surprised.

"This is not my room…" he thought.

Then he finally remembered that he had stayed the night at Rukia's house. He smacked his hand on his forehead, still trying to wake him up. Suddenly he felt a tightening around his waist and it kind of hurting him slightly. He looked down and it was Rukia. She was hugging him like a pillow or worse like her plush doll, Chappy which is at corner of her room.

He was freaked out by that doll. He felt like it was going to him alive due to its big eyes that Rukia always says it was cute.

Forget the Chappy doll! His mind murmured.

He looked down again and Rukia was still sleeping and didn't notice that Ichigo stirred. Without thinking, he reached towards her face and brushes the hair that was always in front of her face. But still it returns to its current position.

He moves his hand away as Rukia scratched the side where Ichigo had just touched and held him tighter against her. She also rests her head on his chest.

Let's get back to Rukia. She was half awake now and never in her life that she encountered a moving pillow that when she pulled it tighter, it was fighting like trying to ease itself from her grasp so she fought back and pulled it again. It was also slightly hard but warm, so warm that she wants to get some more sleep. Once again, she pulled it tighter to her to the point that her leg was resting across it but she felt nothing soft in it. It was solid and it felt like legs.

"The pillow has legs?" she thought. She must be dreaming

She opened her eyes, moved her head up faintly and gently bumps her head up and down to the object.

"Hey." The 'pillow' said. "Stop that. It already hurts when you squeeze me like your Chappy doll."

She suddenly looked up and it was no pillow. It was Ichigo and he was smiling.

"Good morning." He greeted her.



She didn't say anything and looked down where her arms were around his waist and her leg was… was… across his!

An image crossed her mind. She was actually hugging Kurosaki Ichigo like they were married couple! She immediately removes herself away from him and moves to the other side of the bed.

Ichigo's eyebrows furrowed.

"Hey, is something wrong?" he asked.

Rukia just shook her head, too embarrassed on what she just did.

"You had one hell of a grip." He said. "You're a midget of a monster."

She turned around and looked at him. "What did you call me?!" she finally spoke.

Rukia didn't notice that Ichigo moved towards her and when she turned around her face were inches away from him.

"I called you a midget." He whispered. "Can't you get used to it?"

She couldn't speak as his breath fanned her face and his eyes, well, he dazzled her again. Rukia looked away from him.

"Stop that."

"What?"

"I told you stop dazzling me." she said.

"I am dazzling you?"

She huffed and got up from the bed. "Get up now. Your parents may be wondering where you are."

Ichigo also got up and stretched his body. "No they won't. I'm surprised though."

"What for?"

"Well, you are seem they type who screams a lot when a person invades your personal space." He said. "When you woke up, you are so quiet. Or are you just used to people who sleep with you."

She threw his school bag at him. "Shut it, strawberry. Just be thankful that I let you sleep here in my room."

"Yeah, I am thankful." He said. "For that one and the second that I'm also thankful is that you didn't do anything suspicious last night. Truth is I was also hoping that you will and I'll participate."



"Sorry to get your hopes up." She said. "I should be the one who is supposed to be scared that you will do something indecent. And why will you participate? You couldn't even handle a little teasing even from me."

"I can't handle that because there is nothing on you to see."

"Oh so you're rubbing it on my face again, huh?" she asked, hands on her hips. "Then go, find yourself a woman is much better endowed that I am."

Ichigo laughed. She looked so cute when she's jealous. "I told you I like pixie-like girls not women who have bulky packages."

"Haha." She laughed mockingly. "Now, I order you to go home and I'll see you tomorrow."

She turned her back on him. He can sense that she was angry at him, again. Ichigo went to her and whispered in her ear, "No goodbye kiss?"

Rukia turned away. Ichigo sighed and shifted his head to the other side of her face but she turned it again away from him.

"Oh come on." He said powerlessly. "Why are you so riled up, anyway? Look, you act like you're in love with me that's why you're getting jealous."

Still, no reply.

"Well, sorry again. If I offended you." He said sincerely and began to leave.

When he opened the door, Rukia shouted.

"Wait, Ichigo!"

Ichigo smiled secretly as he turned around to look at her. She was already in front of him.

"What is it, Rukia?"

"Bye." She said and by the sound of that, he seemed he was forgiven.

"Yeah. See you tomorrow."

"And…" she continued and Ichigo waited. She stood on her tip toes, reached her head up and kissed him on his left cheek.

Rukia immediately recovered from blushing and said, "Happy?"

Ichigo smiled and replied. "Yes. Bye." He added as he left the room.

Rukia sped up to the bathroom, closed the door behind her and went straight to the sink. She leaned her hands on top of it.



"What the hell?" she whispered. "It was just a friendly kiss and all of this was a lie. I'm not taking this seriously and so him. Then why do I feel like that when he's around me and when he says something so sincerely and… sweetly? Couldn't be I'm –"

"No!" she whispered sternly. "I can't, I can't let myself fall for any emotions like that."

Rukia thought that as much as possible she has to figure this out.

XxxX

Monday… Math class…

"Hey, Rukia."

"Yes, Momo?" Rukia asked.

"What happened to you?" she said.

"What do you mean?" Rukia said confused while trying to answer their new assignment since their teacher left the class early and told them to stay at the classroom until lunch.

Hinamori suddenly grabbed her math notebook, which she had been answering.

"What the hell?!"

"Look at this, Rukia." She demanded. Momo flips the ages of her notebook and shown her the assignment they had checked a few minutes ago. "You got A- in our assignment in Statistics."

Rukia took her notebook back. "So?"

"So?" Hinamori asked. "Since when did this happen? Since when did you study so hard in math?"

"It's just A-, Hinamori. Nothing special in it." She said. "You got A+."

"That's not it!" she said. "And since when did you get interested doing our assignment?"

Rukia sighed. "Hinamori, why are you asking all this questions?"

"You've change." She said as a matter-of-fact tone.

"Is that bad?"

"No." she answered. "I think in a good way. At least you're studying hard now. You always get home so early that you seem like you're anticipating something."

She laughed. "American Idol rocks."

"You don't watch American Idol." She said. "So stop joking. Tell me, Rukia."



"Tell you what?"

"Do you already have a boyfriend or something?"

Rukia coughed. "Excuse me? How do you say that?"

"Well, you always come here to school having a healthy tinge of pink in your face. Then you smile too much like you're having fun in everything you do. You looked inspired. Then when the day ends, you don't look tired like you usually do. Back then, when we're going home, seems like the world is on your shoulders but now you are at ease." She said it all in a straight sentence and not stopping.

"Things change, Momo." Rukia said. "And the things that are happening to me, I can't explain it. I'll tell you if everything is under control ok?"

"You're in love." Hinamori said simply while smiling.

"Huh?" Rukia's eyes widened.

"Oh god!" she shouted. "It is real! You are in love!"

Just like pack of wolves, all of Rukia's girlfriends came to the both of them in a circle.

"What?!" Tatsuki asked. "Rukia's in love?"

Michiyo, the shy type of their group, said, "Ne, Rukia-chan, really?"

"No." Rukia insisted. "I'm not, okay?"

Mahana interrupted. "How can you be so cruel, Rukia?! We've been friends for a very long time and you are not even bothered by not telling us anything?!"

Rukia smiled apologetically. "I know you're all concerned about me due to my lack of romantic history but truth is I'm not really in love or inspired for any of that matter."

Ryou on the other hand, she's the doen't-really-care type seems interested in Rukia's changes. "She's lying. I don't read thoughts nor I'm a psychic but that look definitely says she's in love."

"What?!" Rukia shouted, her mind spinning.

"See, Rukia? You're lying!" Hinamori finally spoke.

Then the bell rang.

"Come on. Too much tension is bad for you guys." Rukia said.

"Oh don't you dare escape this, Rukia. We're joining you to lunch." Tatsuki said threateningly.



Rukia groaned in irritation but at the same time she felt blissful. This was the only time they were having lunch together and spending time with them. She also felt a little girly because she doesn't usually like talking about boyfriends or anything.

She'll play along but she will not spill anything.

When they entered the cafeteria, the girls still bombard her with questions which in return Rukia just gave them a smile. Then they found a table and while eating still nonstop questioning to Rukia.

"Look, guys," Rukia pleaded. "Stop this. You're making me crazy."

"Well, we'll not stop until you don't tell us who he is." Hinamori demanded.

"I'm going to have a headache." She whispered as she clutched her forehead dramatically. When she lifted her head up, she caught a glimpse of Ichigo at the corner of the cafeteria, their usual seat every lunch. He was having a conversation with his friends then suddenly his head turned to her direction and he was looking straight at her then he just smiled.

There he goes again, dazzling her. She gave him a little smile and when she was about turn her head back to her friends, she heard a voice.

"Hey, Kuchiki. Gazing at Kurosaki again huh?"

Rukia shook her head. She looked up irritatingly and saw Inoue Orihime, the school's resident drama queen and her sidekick, Senna.

Everyone knows in the school that Inoue was interested with Ichigo for a long time. She tried to attract him, nothing happened. She tried to make him jealous at last year's prom, nothing also happened. Anyways, Rukia knew that Ichigo doesn't like girls with enormous packages and maybe that's the reason he denies Inoue's existence and she was always hot blooded towards Rukia without reason.

"Just go home to your daddy, Inoue." Rukia said.

"Since when did you speak like that, Kuchiki?" she asked.

Rukia laughed. "How about you? Since when did you have the right to talk to me like that?"

"Kuchiki, don't you dare go tough girl on me." she said. "You may have the attitude but I don't think so when it comes to your physical abilities."

Rukia growled the stood up, facing Orihime.

"Hey, Rukia, stop!" Hinamori said also standing up trying to calm her down. "Just stop it, Inoue-san, please."

"Don't you interfere, Hinamori, this is not your business." Orihime spat.



"Hey." Rukia stopped her. "Let her be. Doesn't mean you have the crown as the school's resident bitch, doesn't mean you can push us around!"

"What did you call me?"

"Bitch." Rukia repeated. "It fits you, don't you agree? No wonder Kurosaki dumped you due to your disgusting attitude."

Then Senna cuts in. "Kuchiki shut your –"

"You shut your mouth!" Rukia turned to her. "I'm not talking to you."

Now, all of the students turned around on their seats to watch the cat fight between Rukia and Inoue. Then another person came.

"Guys," Tatsuki said. "It's Grimmjow."

All of them looked t Orihime's back and saw Grimmjow. He is Orihime's boyfriend and of course the leader of the nastiest boy group in their school. Actually, they are the opposite of Ichigo's group which is the nicest one.

"Hey, what's wrong?" he asked Orihime while he kissed her cheek.

"Well, this little maggot is threatening me." she explained like a little girl to Grimmjow.

"No she's not!" Hinamori intervened. "She started it!" pointing at Inoue.

Rukia held her hand up to stop Momo. "Shut up, Hinamori."

"Brave huh?" he said in his menacing voice.

He went to Rukia and Rukia was so scared now. All her courage went down on the drain. Grimmjow reached his hand down and was about grab Rukia's collar when suddenly a hand came out of nowhere.

Rukia's eyes widened. She turned to her side where the hand came from and surprised to see Ichigo, his hand holding Grimmjow's wrist. Rukia looked at her back and saw Renji, Ishida and Chad, his other friends behind him.

Ichigo smirked. "You know, it makes me sick when a man threatens a defenseless woman and that means you make me sick, Grimmjow."

Grimmjow on the other hand easily withdraws his hand from Ichigo's grip. He smiled. "Kurosaki, this one's mine. Find your own."

"Rukia, step back." He whispered. Rukia didn't answered but she went immediately behind him.

"Just go." He told Grimmjow. "Find another person to beat up and not this one."



"Why not her?" he asked. "I haven't victimized a woman before. Give me a chance."

"Ichigo." Rukia whispered. "Stop this."

Ichigo ignored her. "Just leave her alone."

Grimmjow looked at him confused then suddenly laughed. "I get it! Oh my god, Kurosaki. Have you lost your sense of taste?!"

Ichigo looked at him angrily and Rukia wants to stop this. She knew what he's getting into.

"Don't tell me you have something going on with this girl?!" he asked.

All of the students suddenly gasped including Rukia's friends and all Rukia heard was gossiping and whispering around her.

This is getting worse.

Ichigo smiled. "So? What if I am?"

Another round of whispers louder this time though rang in Rukia's ears.

Grimmjow laughed harder. "Oh well. I quit." He said.

Ichigo and Rukia suddenly became confused.

"I can't do anything here while Ichigo is watching his girl." He said as he turned around, gesturing at Orihime to follow him. "I'll wait outside when no one is looking."

Rukia didn't notice but Ichigo suddenly walked to Grimmjow, turned him around and grabbed him by the collar.

"What are going to do Ichigo?" he asked, daring him.

"Don't you dare do anything funny, Grimmjow." He warned. "If anything happens to Rukia, I'll kill you."

Then he turned to everyone in the room still holding Grimmjow. "And you guys all in here, that girl," he pointed at Rukia. "Is mine. Anyone who dared to take her and do something funny just is sure that you ready your funeral. And that thing same goes for you." He said while turning to Grimmjow.

He lets go of him and walks back to Rukia, grabbed her hand and pulled her out of the room. Rukia didn't speak and just lets Ichigo pull her out of the school and told her to get in his car. She was in shock. He drove as fast as he could and arrived at her house in minute's time.

She didn't reply when Ichigo asked her if she's okay. So he gently led her out of the car and carried her on his back. Luckily her brother wasn't there so he took her upstairs and went inside her room. It happened all too fast.



"Hey, Rukia." He said softly. "Are you okay?"

Rukia didn't say anything she just held his neck tighter.

Ichigo smiled. "You got to get off me."

"I can't." she finally pulled herself together.

"Why not?"

"I'm so… scared." She whispered.

He laughed then walked to her bed, laid her down and he sat beside her.

"Why did you do that?" she asked.

"What?"

"Protected me and stuff." She whispered.

"Well, he's going to do something bad so I got to stop him." He explained.

"We cut classes." She continued.

"It's better." He breathed. "If I spend another hour there, who knows I'll beat Grimmjow up if I don't controlled myself."

Rukia laughed weakly. "I'm in shock, am I?"

"Well, you're pale." He noticed. "Are you scared that he might pick a fight with me?"

"What do you think?" she asked sarcastically.

"Then what happened to your courage back there? I haven't seen Orihime shut up since I dumped her." he asked. "You're the second one who did that her."

"Really?" she said, putting her arm on her forehead. "She's getting on my nerves. I got to do something about that."

Ichigo laughed then Rukia groaned.

"What is it? Does something hurt in you? Ichigo asked worriedly.

"No." she sighed. "I'm thinking on what's going to happen tomorrow. Everyone now knows that I'm your girlfriend."

"So?" he said cockily. "Leave them be. And for goodness sake, Rukia, stay away from trouble. I can't be around you all the time."



"Sorry." She muttered.

"I can't protect you all the time." He continued.

"I'm not asking for you to help me." she huffed.

"You think you can handle those? Humor me."

"She rubbed it on my face again." She defended herself.

"Yeah, I heard that." He said. "That bitch doesn't do any good. Forget her."

Then silence ensued and Rukia broke it.

"Thanks." She said looking at him then smiling.

He smiled back. "It's okay."

Then seems like instinct, she moved to him and puts her arms around him and rested her head on his chest.

"Sorry, again." She sobbed. She was crying.

"Why are you crying?" he asked. "This is ridiculous. Stop that."

He moved her face to look at him and wiped the tears off. "You're so stupid. My name is Ichigo. You know what that means?"

"Strawberry?" she stuttered.

"Very funny." He said, irritatingly. "It means the one who protects, midget. If you're so worried about me, then don't. You have to worry yourself not me."

She stopped crying and just held him tighter in her arms. Ichigo in return wrapped his arms around her too, trying to comfort her.

"I love you."

End of Chapter Ten

XxxX

Okay!!

My hands! Oh my god, my hands!!

Reviews are needed please and tell me your opinions about this chapter!