I finally finished this chapter and it's ready to be read! Hope you all enjoy! Thanks again for reviewing, favoriting and following my story, it means a lot :)

I wake to the movement of Ichigo as he stumbles out of sleep and begins to ready for school. I inch open the closet door enough to squint out, my eyes not ready to meet the suns harsh rays. Ichigo turns at the sound of the door opening and gives me a smile. He strides over to me and bends down to kiss me. I smile in return and sit up, rubbing my eyes. "Good morning," he grumbles, his voice still rough with sleep. I fully slide open the door and let my legs dangle out over the edge as I take in the sight of him. His clothes are wrinkled and his hair is a tangled mess of orange, but he has never looked so attractive.

A booming voice shatters the serene morning along with a loud smash as Ichigo's door is thrust open. "GOOD MORNING, ICHIGO!" Ichigo and I stare at each other for a split of a second before I hastily slam the closet door shut and Ichigo moves away from the closet to his bed. There's another loud crash followed by a low groan. " Are you nuts? What kind a sick twisted freak attacks their own son while their just lying there sleeping," Ichigo yells at his father.

I have to stifle a laugh at his accusation. "You are getting good," I hear his father rasp, " Looks like there's nothing else to teach you, my son" his dad groans in pain from Ichigo's counterattack and Ichigo mumbles in annoyance. A sweet voice breaks through the roughhousing that must belong to Karin, one of Ichigo's sisters. " Ichigo, you better hurry up and come eat breakfast or you'll be late!" Ichigo agrees and sends the two off and I know it's safe to come out when I hear his door shut. I step outside and see Ichigo who looks like the whole scene exhausted him. I raise my eyebrow at him and teasingly say, "They seem nice."

He gives me a fake laugh while I hop out of the closet to grab my bag. I dig through it to find my uniform. I pull it out and say to Ichigo, "Turn around." He has thrown on his uniform shirt, without care about my presence and he smirks at my shyness, but does as he's told. I dress casually not wanting to seem like I'm embarrassed. After I'm done I say, "Well, I'll see you at school." Ichigo turns around in surprise and is immediately startled as he sees my push his window open and leap up to stand on the edge of the windowsill, my bag hanging on my shoulder. "um, What are you doing? You can't go out that way!"

I roll my eyes at his dramatics and pivot on my heels so I'm facing him. "I obviously can't go through the front door since your family is down there." Before he can protest, I leap to the ground and land with ease. I peek up to see Ichigo gaping out the window, so I just wave in his direction and head off.

Usually on the walk to school I rush not wanting to dwell outside for too long. But something about the morning air mixed with the warmth from the sun makes me slow my steps as I embrace the nice weather. "Hi there, Rukia! How are you?" I blink out of my daze and turn to see Orihime bounding over to me. I smile without effort not having to put on a show anymore, since I'm actually happy to see her. "Oh, hey there, Orihime, I'm fine".

" Can I walk with you?"

"Of course you can," I reply smiling to show that I mean it. As we walk I'm surprised at myself for being the one to start the conversation. " I didn't know you were an early riser like me. Do you always come to school this early?" Orihime stops in her tracks making me halt as well as she passionately says, "No, I'm usually late. But with summer almost here, I get to excited that I can't sleep and every morning I pop out of bed all sparkly!" Her eyes shine as she pictures the summer and all it's glory with hands clasped together.

At the mention of summer, I realize how limited of a time period I have to become closer to Orihime. "What are you going to do this summer, Rukia?" I don't know how to respond so I sheepishly say, "Um I have no idea," and let out a shaky laugh. Orihime's eyes light up and she says, " there's a firework festival in August and Tatsuki and a bunch of us are going! You should come along with us, Rukia. We go every summer and it's always really fun! What do you say?"

" A firework festival?"

"mhm. In fact we should ask Ichigo to go too!" This task of staying with Orihime during the summer just got easier. I smile at myself as we walk together, but suddenly I feel the weight of spiritual pressure looming nearby. I have to tell myself to not stop walking because that will alert Orihime and she will think something is wrong.

So I concentrate, but with every step the pressure get's stronger and I have to bite my lip from letting it overcome me. That's when I see him. He's lurking on top of the school and his eyes are not on me, but Orihime. I glower at him, which makes him turn in my direction. He doesn't smirk or give me one of his evil grins. He just stares, but his eyes dare me to come to him. He thinks I'm too scared. I'll show him.

I turn to Orihime and say, "Look, there's Tatsuki." Tatsuki is just ahead of us, chatting with some other girls, a perfect way to separate Orihime from me so I can take care of some business.

"Why don't you walk the rest of the way with her. I just remembered I have a call I need to make." Orihime nods and says, "Okay, I'll see you in class," and leaps over to Tatsuki. I gaze back to the roof and the arrancar is still there, his gaze follows Orihime but travels back to me. With a tilt of his head he challenges me to join him.

I take one last look at Orihime before I sneak into the building and briskly go up the stairs leading to the roof. I get to the top and only hesitate as I change out of my Gigai. I open the door leading back outside, immediately make eye contact with his electric blue eyes.

I close the door behind me, without breaking our gaze. As I walk over to him I ask, "What are you doing here?" I stop walking when I'm close enough to him, but still at a safe distance. " Long time no see," He says, stepping over to me. He peers over in my direction as if he's looking for something. "I didn't hurt you too badly, did I?" I just stare at him not wanting to give him any satisfaction by reacting in anyway.

My silence doesn't waver his confidence though, "Your friend is fucking hot and she's got a nice rack." He's almost to me, but I don't move. If I show a sign of weakness he will pounce, like a lion. "What do you want, arrancar," I ask in annoyance. He stops as he finally comes close enough to me that I can see nothing behind him. He likes to show off his size in comparison to me. I avoid his stare, but that doesn't stop his words from sending a shiver down my core, "Her. I want her." I finally look towards him with clear distaste in my features .

"You're disgusting," I say with truth ringing with each word. He looks down at me, something burning in his eyes that I can't comprehend. Without warning, the arrancar takes hold of my chin. "You're pretty sexy yourself when you're mad." His fingers are unexpectedly careful and unlike his usual grip it is light. I feel no pain instead I feel surprise. That's why I don't rip out of his grip, but instead I slowly take a step away from him, our eye connect still intact.

I grip the hilt of my sword, preparing for him to lash out. He doesn't, though. He just leans down so his mouth is against my ear and says, "Maybe instead of her I'll make you mine." I unsheathe my sword then, but he knew I would react to his words and he blocks it easily with his hand. He pulls me towards him and I grapple with him as I rip the sword out of his hand. "Why?" I ask through gritted teeth. He gives me a toothy smile and as he is about to answer the door that leads back into the school flies open. "Rukia!"

I don't have to turn my head to know that it's Ichigo. Grimmjow pushes me aside as if I weighed nothing and heads to Ichigo before I can blink. I swiftly turn my head towards the two to see Ichigo barreling after Grimmjow, who is smiling happy to have a better competitor.

I stand just as the school bell tolls indicating that everyone should report to class. I fixate my vision back on to the two fighting and realize we're not going anywhere anytime soon. Ichigo and Grimmjow are hand-to-hand in skills and neither is faltering. I can't interfere for that could either be an advantage or disadvantage. So all I can do is wait. Grimmjow stops Ichigo's attack and right hooks him with his fist. Grimmjow stands and the wind blows where I get a glimpse of the number six on his back. I squint in confusion, not understanding the significant of the number.

The arrancar seems to reenergize at the sight of Ichigo struggling to his feet as if a wave of confidence has blown in with the passing wind. He turns his head slightly back towards me and winks in my direction just as a blinding red light appears as he calls upon his cero.

I feel my eyes go wide as Ichigo is surrounded by the flashing red light and hit with the powerful attack. Ichigo goes flying off the building and I instantly stand and start to run to the sound of the crash and dust flying from the impact.

But he's there in front of me, the arrancar, halting my pursuit. His arm encloses around my waist. I grapple against his hold, reaching for my sword, but he knocks it with a flick of his fingers. I let out a shriek in frustration and my hand lashes out without my control and I slap him with all the power I can muster.

My chest heaves in anger and the hit has shocked him. I take hold of his arm and shove it away from me and I grasp my sword and swing. He blocks it but I don't stop. I keep swinging with purpose and sometimes land a hit, but mostly he easily swipes out of the way before I can land a fatal blow.

As Grimmjow and I fight I feel sweat begin to form on my forehead, yet he stands as if he is taking a nice stroll out in a park somewhere. He strikes out and I'm knocked backwards and I land on my back leaving me breathless. Having the wind knocked out me, I gasp for air as I strain to sit up. As I manage to sit upward, I'm not greeted by the sight of Grimmjow's figure towering menacingly over me, but Ichigo kneeling next to me urgently asking if I'm okay.

I franticly search the area, but Grimmjow's nowhere in sight. "Where is he? Where did he go," I gasp out as Ichigo put's a gentle hand on my back and the other holding my hand as he helps me stand. "I don't know. When I got up here, all I saw was you on the ground." His hand leaves my back and he holds my face so I'm looking at him. "You are okay, right"? I place my hand over his and shake my head in reply to assure him of my safety.

"We need to…" I don't have the chance to finish forming my statement because a blast erupts, shocking both Ichigo and me. The roof shakes from the explosion and Ichigo and I stare horror at one another. "He's in the school," Ichigo states. There's only one reason he would be in the school and that's to get what he want he came here for. Orihime.