And I've lost who I am
And I can't understand
Why my heart is so broken
Rejecting your love...There's a light
There's a sun, taking all the shattered ones
To the place, we belong…

~Shattered by Trading Yesterday

X. Happy To Go?

"…"

"…"

"…How…is that even possible?"

Ichigo shrugged. Rukia glared at him for the longest time, then looked down at the two packets of paper sitting on the table in front of them. It was a test they'd taken about a week earlier. Ichigo had done exactly three points better than Rukia.

She still couldn't believe it.

"Do you even know what a book is?" Rukia demanded angrily. She hadn't seen the boy so much as look at a book since Rukia had known him. How in the world had he managed to do better than Rukia on a test? Sure it was only three points, and they'd both still gotten the highest grades in the class, but…come on!

"If it's really that big of a deal to you, stop thinking about it," Ichigo suggested as he grabbed his test, shoving it into his bag and heading into his room. Rukia scowled before grabbing her own test and going after him.

"Seriously—"

"My thoughts exactly." Ichigo rolled his eyes. "You know it's not healthy to be obsessive over something."

"I am not obsessive."

"You're yelling at me because I did three points better on a test."

"I am not yelling!"

Ichigo tossed his bag into the corner of his room and flopped down on his bed, raising an eyebrow at Rukia, who was glaring at him. "Just out of curiosity…have you ever considered professional help as an option?"

That did it, Ichigo reflected with a slight smirk as Rukia huffed, turning on her heel and storming out of the room. It was so easy to push her buttons.

Ichigo's smirk faded just a bit as he rolled on to his side, staring out the window. Teasing Rukia had lost some of its…amusement, after finding out that she had suffered just the same as him during her time in the system. It didn't stop him, of course; she would have been suspicious about the change, and Ichigo wasn't interested in getting Hisana in to trouble. It had always just been easier to think of Rukia as another overly-privileged brat. It almost bothered Ichigo that she could just as easily be put in the same category as him.

Not that it changed it had changed any part of their antagonistic friendship; because really, that was exactly what it was. They got an each other's nerves, yes. Each strived to get under the other's skin. But at the same time, they could manage to get along, if they both really wanted to.

Usually it was just easier to argue though.

Hisana frowned as she stared at the calendar. "It's not going to start doing back-flips," Misa said with a slight laugh as she walked past Hisana, coffee cup in hand. The raven-haired woman didn't bother responding to the flippant comment. "What's wrong?" Misa asked, a bit surprised.

"It's been a month." It took Misa a minute to figure out what this meant.

"Kurosaki stayed with you for an entire month?" She finally asked, shock coloring her tone. "You must have some kind of magic touch, how did you manage that?"

Hisana would never voice her suspicions, but she had a feeling Rukia had a lot to do with Ichigo managing to get through an entire month without trying to run away. The two of them had a…strange relationship, to say the least.

"So have you started looking at into homes for him?" Misa asked, noticing nothing of the conflict that overtook Hisana's features at the question. As much as she hated to admit it, as much as she knew it was a bad idea to get attached, Hisana didn't want to start thinking about new homes for Ichigo. She would have just as soon let him stay with her until he aged out of the system.

Unfortunately, she knew that wasn't an option.

"I've got a family you could look at," Misa said, going over to her desk and finding the file. "They've taken a couple other kids already, they actually just finished adopting the second one. They're…unique, to say the least. But I get the feeling normal doesn't exactly work with Kurosaki, does it?"

"To say the least," Hisana agreed. She took the file, flipping it open and beginning to read. She didn't absorb any of what the words on the page were telling her, though. She was more worried about going home and telling Ichigo — and Rukia, for that matter — that their time was up.

—

"…Ow!"

That word, coupled with the sound of plastic bouncing off of linoleum, was what greeted Hisana as she walked through the door, pizza box in hand. She stopped dead, smiling a bit as Rukia's irate voice reached her ears.

"I am not short!"

Well Hisana had warned Ichigo, she mused as she made her way into the kitchen. She could only hope that the plastic cup rolling around the floor hadn't been what her easily annoyed sister had whipped at the boy's head. "You're not short?" He continued despite the pain that was probably surging through his skull at the moment. "Please, I need a magnifying glass to see you!"

"Who wants pizza?" Hisana inquired loudly before Rukia could find something else to abuse Ichigo with. She rather disliked the way Rukia stared at the pizza box; as if it could be her next weapon of choice.

"Oh, Nee-san, before I forget, Byakuya-sama called."

Hisana did her best to ignore the fact that all her limbs were suddenly numb as she set the pizza down on the counter. "Oh?" She tried to sound impartial. "When?"

"Um…about three days ago."

"What?" Hisana whirled around to glare at Rukia, anger apparent in her violet eyes. "And you're just telling me now?"

"I forgot."

"Rukia!" And with that, Hisana turned on her heel and ran upstairs to use the phone in her room; it was the only way she would get any privacy.

"That was mean," Ichigo commented mildly as he grabbed a piece of pizza and a plate. Rukia was grinning as she followed suit.

"I know."

"When do you think she'll figure out he just called twenty minutes ago?"

"I'm guessing after she finished stammering apologizes for taking so long to get back to him and sounding like an idiot—"

"Rukia!"

That did it. Rukia burst out laughing, clearly amused by her little joke. Ichigo stared at her for a minute before allowing a smile to grace his lips as well. Rukia found a certain joy in torturing her sister. Not that Hisana didn't make it insanely easy…

"You know," Rukia said casually as Hisana stormed back downstairs almost twenty minutes later, her face redder than Ichigo could ever remember seeing it, "you've been dating this guy for over a month. When do I get to meet him?"

"How about the twelfth of never?" Hisana snapped, clearly furious with being the butt of her sister's joke. Rukia just grinned.

"Something wrong, Nee-san?"

Boy, if looks could kill. Ichigo was feeling nervous with just being in the general vicinity of Hisana's glare. Rukia didn't seem to mind too much though. She took a sip of her soda without flinching, giving the woman no kind of acknowledgment.

"Someday Rukia…" Hisana threatened, her voice little more than a growl as she stormed over to the counter, yanking the cabinet door open and grabbing a plate with more vindictiveness than what was probably necessary considering the situation.

"Yeah, I know, you're going to stuff me in a basket and leave on the doorstep of an orphanage."

"Only if you're lucky."

Rukia bit her lip to keep from laughing. Hisana sat down, her angry look transforming into more of a sad one as she looked between her sister and Ichigo; neither teen noticed.

They knew this living arrangement wasn't forever, that was the only reason Rukia even agreed to it in the first place. Besides, they hate each other, Ichigo will be glad to get out and Rukia will be glad to see him go.

Except Hisana knew this wasn't true. No matter what they said, it was obvious that the two had become more fond of each other than they were willing to let on. The fact that neither of them had even mentioned that today was the one month mark was proof enough of that. If they really wanted to get away from each other, they would have been counting down to this day.

Which just made it all the more difficult for Hisana to say what she knew she had to say.

"So…" The uncertain, uneasy tone drew both teens' attentions more quickly than it would have otherwise. Rukia and Ichigo looked up at the same time, similar confusion shining in their very different eyes. Hisana also noted a certain bit of fear in Rukia's eyes. She knew that tone too well.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing, nothing," Hisana reassured her sister's hastily. "It's just…you two do know that today makes the one month mark since Kurosaki-kun came to live with us, right?" Her statement was met with blank looks. "I started looking at foster homes today," she added pointedly, her gaze turning solely to Ichigo. Understanding dawned on them both at the same time.

"Oh."

It was Rukia who spoke the mono-syllabic word before returning her attention to her food. "Jeez Nee-san, I thought something terrible had happened. Don't scare me like that."

Hisana's eyes slid over to look at her sister, who was glaring at her plate like it was somehow to blame for the world's problems. Ichigo didn't say anything as he returned his attention to his food as well.

It was a very quiet supper after that.

A couple hours later found Hisana standing in front of her sister's closed bedroom door. Both Rukia and Ichigo had retreated to their rooms after the quiet meal, neither speaking as they confined themselves behind closed doors. Hisana suddenly found herself wishing she'd waited to bring up the idea of Ichigo leaving. But wasn't it better she say it now?

Knock-Knock

"Go away Nee-san," Rukia's muffled voice responded to the tentative knock. Hisana didn't listen, of course. She knocked just to give the illusion of respect for Rukia's privacy. "Why do I even bother?" The raven-haired girl grumbled as Hisana walked in.

"I don't know, why do you?" Hisana teased lightly as she sat down on the edge of the bed; Rukia was sitting at her desk, doing homework. "You didn't get that done earlier?" The sight surprised Hisana just a little.

"No, Ichigo was being annoying. Guess that's something I won't have to worry about anymore, huh? It'll be quiet in the afternoons again." There was a very bitter tone in Rukia's voice. Clearly the idea of quiet didn't appeal to her.

"Rukia…" Hisana sighed, feeling a surge of pity. "You knew it wasn't forever."

"No kidding." The sarcasm in Rukia's voice was scathing. Hisana actually flinched a bit, surprised by the acidic tone. Sure, her sister could be a bit…mean sometimes. But Hisana couldn't remember the last time the girl had reacted to something in this manner. Maybe it was just a sign of how effective the last month had been.

"Come on Rukia, talk to me. What's wrong?"

"Why do you always think something's wrong?" Rukia snapped. "Honestly Nee-san, I think you missed your calling; if you want to listen to people whine about how terrible their lives are, you should have become a therapist."

Hisana raised an eyebrow at Rukia, who missed the look completely. "If you're in a bad mood, don't take it out on me."

"You came in here."

"To talk to you, not to listen to your sarcasm."

"The two things are one in the same." Hisana sighed. Okay, so maybe she was asking for this. She knew when Rukia was unhappy she lashed out at the closest living object. It was the way she was. Hisana was only trying to help, though…

"You know it wouldn't be such a bad thing to talk about it."

"There's nothing to talk about." Now she was just deliberately being stubborn. Hisana wouldn't deny that she found it just a little annoying.

"If you're going to miss him, it's okay to admit it." At this point, nothing should have surprised Hisana. But she was surprised when Rukia started laughing. It was a hollow, empty sound, and it worried Hisana just a little. "I must have missed the joke. How about letting me in?"

"Why in the world would I miss him? He's absolutely infuriating, he goes out of his way to insult me, he's constantly trying to distract me from my work…I can think of absolutely no reason at all why I shouldn't be absolutely thrilled to get him the hell out of my hair."

"Right." A bit of sarcasm leaked into Hisana's voice. "So why aren't you?"

Silence. "Go away Nee-san," Rukia finally said. Hisana wasn't an idiot; she could recognize a defeat. She sighed as she stood up, slowly making her way out of the room. She'd try again later.

Rukia kept her head down as Hisana left. She hadn't turned around the entire time her sister had been in the room. If she had, Hisana would have seen the tears slowly working their way down Rukia's cheeks.

Author's Note: So honestly, who forgot that Ichigo wasn't actually living with Hisana and Rukia? Hehe…yeah, I know, I'm mean. Sorry for the long gap in the updates, I've recently come into a job, which is taking up almost as much of my time as school. I'm going to try and keep updates as timely as possible…keep an eye on my profile for details. And review, please! — Sam