A/N: Hey guys! So after four long months, we finally have electricity again and we're using a mobile wifi for our internet(which is very very very slow). I won't make this long since I pretty much have hundred of things to say so I'll probably just bore you. Anyway, if you want to ask me how things went or how it felt living without electricity or how I managed to survive without internet for four months or even my nonexistent love life, just pm me. xD

And before I forget, thank you to everyone! Especially those people who gave support and help and those who prayed for us. We are really grateful to the countries and the people who extended a hand to us Filipinos.

So as I said, I won't make this note long, here's the chapter.

Rukia Kurosaki

Chapter 8

-Rukia-

The ride home was silent. I guess we were still absorbing the information that Urahara told us.

Home… I wonder if I can still call it that.

To be honest, somewhere in the back of my mind, I somehow knew I didn't lose my memories.

It's just too… unreasonable.

But waking up in an unknown room, in an unfamiliar place, with a person I almost didn't recognize claiming to be my husband, what else was I supposed to think?

Even my own reflection didn't make any sense. In fact, the minute I woke up that day, nothing really made sense anymore.

And when I saw 'my' son, you can only imagine my surprise. It was simply impossible and even if it was true, I refuse to believe that I don't remember my own child, amnesia or not. But when he jumped into my arms; when I held him for the first time, my doubts just flew. I knew right then that despite my previous thoughts, it was impossible that he wasn't my son.

The time I spent here; the time I spent with Ichigo and Takeshi, was wonderful and… real.

And now, knowing that everything I have here isn't really mine…

It breaks my heart a little.

This all belongs to Rukia Kurosaki, the person I thought I was. Living her life, even just for a moment, made me happy.

This person, this "other me"… She has everything I, Rukia Kuchiki, has ever wanted.

-Ichigo-

When we arrived, I immediately made my way upstairs and Rukia followed. Takeshi was probably sleeping right now so we didn't have to worry.

We were both lost in our own thoughts. I laid down on the bed and stared at the ceiling, then I sighed. This was so complicated.

I shifted my gaze to my 'wife,' who had a faraway look on her face, and released another sigh. Rukia is Rukia, and she will always be, but I know we have to find a way to take her back and fast. Time is something no one should mess with. The longer she stays here, the greater the effect.

You see, I don't remember ever being visited by another Rukia in the past. This sudden intrusion of the time space may ruin the cycle. If something happens… Rukia Kuchiki's 'future', which is Rukia Kurosaki's present, may change.

And that is something that I don't want to happen.

"Rukia…" I said after a while and when she looked at me, I continued, "Before you woke up in this room for the first time, tell me what really happened."

For a moment, it was silent. I waited patiently for Rukia to speak.

"Urahara called that night, saying he had to show 'us' something of great importance. On our way there, what seemed to be a portal appeared out of nowhere near the park, and strangely, no one else was there. It didn't resemble the door to Soul Society or Hueco Mundo in any way…

-Rukia-

What is that thing?

I take a step back cautiously, and waited. Seconds passed and nothing happened.

I slowly approached the 'portal' when Ichigo grabbed my arm.

"Rukia…" was all he said.

Another second passed and the portal suddenly vanished into thin air, erasing all evidence that it was ever here in the first place.

"We have to go to Urahara."

I popped a pill in my mouth and was immediately released out of the gigai. Ichigo did the same with his body, slamming his badge to his chest.

I then ordered Chappy to 'hide' Ichigo's body and inform the others.

We both flash stepped to Urahara's, finding him…

…drinking tea and fanning himself.

"Why hello Kurosaki-kun, Kuchiki-san! What brings you to my humble abode?" he asked a little too cheerfully.

I swear I heard Ichigo's vein pop. "You're the one who called us here!" he yelled, irritated.

"Oh? I can't remember why I would call you here. I sure am getting old."

"Urahara, be serious. A portal suddenly appeared in the park. I don't know wha—"

"Don't worry, Kuchiki-san. It's been taken care of." He cut me off, his hat shadowing over his eyes.

I sigh. He may have tricked me once, but I know he could be trusted.

"As long as you're sure of that." I said before leaving the shop with Ichigo following me closely.

…

"Beep! Beep! Beep!"

"There's a hollow near the park. It's an arrancar level. Let's go." Ichigo and I flash stepped to our destination, finding ourselves on the same spot we were three hours ago.

"Shit! It's gone!" Ichigo scowled.

"No, it's still here. I can feel its reiatsu but it's faint." I said, furrowing my brows.

My eyes widened when I felt the sudden surge of reiatsu behind me. I was about to—

"Rukia! Watch out!"

It was too late. The force was overwhelming and I fell to my knees, but I felt no pain. And for the second time that day, the reiatsu vanished into thin air.

"Rukia, I'm sorry… I'm so sorry."

That was all I heard before everything turned black.

-end of flashback-

-Ichigo-

"…and when I woke up… Well, you know the rest." She finished.

"Now that you mention it, I think I do remember something like that happening before. But it was so long ago." I sighed, "With the number of battles we've fought, it's hard keeping track on all of them."

It was a half truth. I remember it like it was yesterday.

How can I forget when Rukia was hurt because of me?

But the next days after that are kind of blurry already. I mean, it's been years. I'm sure though that we've never encountered that particular arrancar since then and nothing similar has ever happened.

After that, everything was normal. Well, as normal as my life could be.

It's weird really. If the very same thing that happened to us years ago, happened to them, then the time space is normal and the cycle is unchanged.

But if my Rukia and past Rukia switched places, then how come, as I've said earlier, I don't recall being visited by the "future Rukia" when I was younger? I mean, I'm sure the Urahara in that time would've figured it out.

Ugh. This is making my head hurt.

"Ichigo," Rukia's voice broke my thoughts, "I'm gonna check on Takeshi."

She walked out of the room without waiting for my reply but I nodded my head anyway.

I'm sure that my annoying wife is doing better than me in figuring this all out. That midget better be okay wherever she is.

I close my eyes and find myself drifting to sleep.

…

Somewhere in the past, unbeknownst to "future Ichigo," Rukia Kurosaki sneezed inside a very familiar closet in the Kurosaki household.

-tbc-

A/N: Comments and suggestions are welcome! :) I really need suggestions btw. Just review or send me a PM. ^_^